Foreign-trained scholars: Contributions to social sciences development in northeast Mexico

Abstract

Historically, a dependent relationship to so-called developed countries has strongly influenced scientific endeavors in peripheral regions. The objective of this work is to identify relevant roles that scholars with abroad postgraduate diplomas have played in the development of social sciences in northeastern Mexico since 1960. Twenty-six interviews were conducted with key actors in the regional scientific field. Data from these interviews was triangulated with available literature on the field and with data from the annual National System of Researchers registers. While these actors were decisively confirmed as introducers of knowledge and research practices, institutional weakness limits their contributions and requires them to play active role in the social legitimation of their scientific field.