Thinking about “the public”: Polical Science development about the State and Public Policies in Uruguay (1987 – 2012)

Abstract

The article analyzes the origins and development of the studies on the State and Public Policies in the Institute of Political Science of the Universidad de la República, institution that is nowadays a reference in this field in Uruguay. This evolution is presented in closed connection with the process of conformation of the sub-discipline, with particular attention to its specific traits in teaching and research, topics that have become a priority as well as the theoretical frameworks most commonly adopted and the methodologies that are usually applied. Finally, the article underlines some trends in this identity-building process, mainly linked to the relationship with Political Science as a discipline and with the topics under study, and presents some challenges for future development.