Campos e imaginarios profesionales en América Latina. Renovación y estudios de caso

Abstract

Here, the trends & patterns and the main featnres of the studies about professions during the last decades are reviewed. Bearíng in mind future research work, the idea is to place greater emphasis on the convergence between "professionals" and "intellectuals", and on the historicity (historical authenticity) which Pierre Bourdieu's concept of"field" presupposes. With regard to the specific case ofLatin America, the renovation that has takcn place in recent years thanks to the "new legal history", socio-cultural studies about health & illness and the development of a new offshoot of comparative work, is pinpointed. Finaily, relevant aspects about the articles included in the dossier are highlighted.