Dictatorship, transition, and the forging of political science in Uruguay. Issue 2 (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ravecca, Paulo
• Editors: Boncourt, Thibaud; Ravecca, Paulo
• Is Part Of: Science in context. Volume 33:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: The politics of political science, -- dictatorship, -- democracy, -- ideological change, -- power; Science -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.4505
• DOI: 10.1017/S026988972000023X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-8897

Abstract

Argument: The study examines the trajectory of Uruguayan Political Science (PS) from a critical theory perspective. Concretely, the article focuses on PS' institutional birth and early period (1980s and 1990s) and shows how broader political and ideological transformations had a significant impact on its discourse on Uruguayan democracy. Three components of such discourse are unpacked: The embrace of liberalism, the rejection of Marxism, and the uncritical engagement with the local political system, particularly the 'traditional parties.' The argument is supported by a systematic analysis of the 163 articles published by Revista Uruguaya de Ciencia Política ( RUCP ) from 1987 to 2012 and 22 in-depth interviews with scholars from the Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP) at Universidad de la República (UdelaR).