ABSTRACT
In the same way that light is required to observe cells through the microscope, the circulation of foreign ideas allows us to examine a curious phenomenon: in networked fields, such as Argentine political science, although there are dominant actors, only a few actors can obtain the material and symbolic resources to establish a permanent, steady connection between some local networks and their foreign counterparts. Further, the acquisition of academic posts, such as Head of Department or Dean, is particularly important, because only from these institutional positions can international connections be maintained through time. This is one important reason why local scholars usually take administrative posts even when they know that by so doing they probably will not have enough time to develop their research and teaching careers (cfr. Bourdieu 2004).
