Practice theorizing has become one of the most productive and innovative programmes of research in the study of world politics. Drawing on earlier concepts of ‘discursive practices’, ‘gendered practices’ or ‘institutions’, the discussion on practice has led to a thriving discourse studying phenomena ranging from diplomacy and war, international organizations, interventions, international trade to markets, to development policies. If the practice accounts of Pierre Bourdieu, Etienne Wenger and Bruno Latour were particularly influential in the first wave of studies, practice theorizing today stands for broader cross disciplinary conversations with social theory, science and technology studies, organization studies, narratology or anthropology. Practice theorizing also has led to an experimental space in which scholars try out and test new methods (e.g. participant observation, praxiography, design) of how to study the international.
At this 2-day online workshop about 100 participants reflected on the progress and development of practice theorizing in the study of international phenomena, discussed challenges and gaps, and debated new and ongoing research projects with a focus on new voices in the debate.
Davide Nicolini, Professor of Organization Studies at Warwick Business School, one of the leading practice scholars, gave a keynote address.
The event was organized by the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen in collaboration with the Section ‘International Practices’ of the European International Studies Association, and the Centre for Global Cooperation Research, University of Duisburg-Essen.
