The Study of Latin American Politics in British Universities

In: Latin American research review, Band 9, Heft 2, S. 95-104

Abstract

The study of politics in british universities has traditionally been historical in approach and parochial in scope. It is only recently that the teaching and research interests of British political scientists have spread beyond the Anglo-European parliamentary tradition to the more 'exotic' areas of what is inaccurately called the 'Third World'. In the first half of this century the observation and analysis of political activity in the non-European parts of the world were the unchallenged concerns of travellers, diplomats, and journalists; and their writings found few serious readers in the universities. Their work was regarded, and often conceived, as a species of adventurers' tales describing quaint but essentially pre-political societies.