The study of political science began in Guatemala in the late 1960s and for over a decade it had to develop with limitations imposed by the authoritarian regimes that governed the country. However, from the beginning the political science schools actively promoted democratization. When the democratization
process began in the mid 1980s, the possibilities for research of different issues expanded. Something similar occurred with the peace process in the 1990s. Throughout three decades of existence, political science has significantly contributed to democracy–building and peace–building in Guatemala. However,
as an academic discipline, it has been limited by the strong links that it has maintained with other social sciences and law. During 35 years the academic centers that teach political science have faced a series of dilemmas regarding the type of programs they offer to students (technical degree, bachelor degree or master degree), the profile of those who graduate vis–à–vis the job market and the emphasis in the study of the problems of Guatemala vis–à–vis a more global perspective.