This article analyzes the development of political science in Argentina. It defends four theses. First, that the development of the scientific analysis of politics in Argentina stems from the professionalization and internal differentiation of social sciences, is centered in universities and is highly vulnerable to regime change. Second, that in the last few years the discipline’s academic autonomy grows, supported by the growth of university undergraduate and graduate programs. Its autonomy as a field of professional practice evolves at a slower pace. Third, that research agendas reflect mainly the priorities of decision makers, international scholarly communities and personal trajectories of local practitioners. Public concerns play a less significant role. Finally, that the specific contribution of political scientists to political analysis still struggles to clearly define its difference from interventions made by jurists, sociologists, economists and journalists.