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Author

Frank Gadinger

Other affiliations: University of Mainz
Bio: Frank Gadinger is an academic researcher from University of Duisburg-Essen. The author has contributed to research in topics: Practice theory & International relations. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 35 publications receiving 607 citations. Previous affiliations of Frank Gadinger include University of Mainz.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The core claims of the practice turn in International Relations (IR) remain ambiguous as discussed by the authors, and it is worth noting that practice approaches entail a distinctive view on the drivers of social relations, arguing against individualistic-interest and norm-based actor models.
Abstract: The core claims of the practice turn in International Relations (IR) remain ambiguous. What promises does international practice theory hold for the field? How does the kind of theorizing it produces differ from existing perspectives? What kind of research agenda does it produce? This article addresses these questions. Drawing on the work of Andreas Reckwitz, we show that practice approaches entail a distinctive view on the drivers of social relations. Practice theories argue against individualistic-interest and norm-based actor models. They situate knowledge in practice rather than “mental frames” or “discourse.” Practice approaches focus on how groups perform their practical activities in world politics to renew and reproduce social order. They therefore overcome familiar dualisms—agents and structures, subjects and objects, and ideational and material—that plague IR theory. Practice theories are a heterogeneous family, but, as we argue, share a range of core commitments. Realizing the promise of the practice turn requires considering the full spectrum of its approaches. However, the field primarily draws on trajectories in international practice theory that emphasize reproduction and hierarchies. It should pay greater attention to practice approaches rooted in pragmatism and that emphasize contingency and change. We conclude with an outline of core challenges that the future agenda of international practice theory must tackle.

178 citations

Book
01 Sep 2014
TL;DR: This chapter introduces International Practice Theory and discusses core Approaches in International practice theory, as well as conceptual challenges of international practice Theory, and Towards Praxiography: Methodology and Research Techniques.
Abstract: 1. Introducing International Practice Theory 2. Situating Practice Theory in Social Theory and International Relations 3. Core Approaches in International Practice Theory 4. Conceptual Challenges of International Practice Theory 5. Towards Praxiography: Methodology and Research Techniques 6. After the Practice Turn - In Conclusion ?

108 citations

Book Chapter
18 Oct 2016

86 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that science studies can help us to address these problems more adequately by treating IR as a scientific practice that is closely tied to its social environment, and develop a heuristic by which the relations between IR and its environment can be grasped systematically.
Abstract: What does it take to be an international relations (IR) scholar? IR discourses have tackled this question with focus on very different problems: the role and function of IR scholars for policy; the (ir)relevance and impact of IR knowledge and expertise in world politics; disciplinary history; or in studying IR's institutions. We argue that all these “disciplinary sociology” debates struggle with the relation between an internal scientific IR world and an external social context (policy, society). We reject this distinction and argue that science studies can help us to address these problems more adequately by treating IR as a scientific practice that is closely tied to its social environment. The article sets out to explore science studies' possible contributions. Based on science studies key assumptions, we develop a heuristic by which the relations between IR and its environment can be grasped systematically. From this perspective, IR is pivotally a culture constituted by different domains of practice. Hence, understanding IR scholars in “doing IR” requires taking into account their daily and sometimes trivial practices. For instance, writing an article in IR means much more than only thinking theoretically at a desk. We systematize the different domains of practices as the articulation of knowledge claims, mobilizing the world, autonomy seeking, alliance building, and public representation. “Being an IR scholar” and “producing IR knowledge” depends inevitably on these sets of practices and IR is intrinsically interwoven with its environment through these.

78 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion of the role of Narrativen in the Sinnvermittlung menschlicher Kommunikation wird bestritten, and a discussion about Implikationen and forschungspraktischen Konsequenzen sich aus this einsicht fur die Politikwissenschaft ergeben.
Abstract: Eine Hinwendung zur Erzahlung lasst sich sowohl in der politischen Offentlichkeit als auch in der sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschungspraxis beobachten. Die zentrale Bedeutung von Narrativen in der Sinnvermittlung menschlicher Kommunikation wird kaum noch bestritten. Jedoch ist noch nicht geklart, welche Implikationen und forschungspraktischen Konsequenzen sich aus dieser Einsicht fur die Politikwissenschaft ergeben. Welche Funktion nehmen Narrative in der gesellschaftlichen Verstandigung ein? Worin liegt die pragende Kraft von Narrativen fur die Politik? Was ist das Politische am Erzahlen? Welche erzahlerischen Techniken und Praktiken lassen sich besonders bei politischen Akteuren beobachten? Wie unterscheidet sich solch eine Forschungsperspektive von Ansatzen, die Argumente oder Diskurse in den Mittelpunkt stellen? Der vorliegende Beitrag will sich diesen Fragen konzeptionell nahern und so grundlegende Probleme einer politikwissenschaftlichen Narrativanalyse beleuchten. Als vorlaufiges Ergebnis wird eine offene Heuristik vorgeschlagen, die den Fokus auf das Narrative fur die Politikwissenschaft fruchtbar machen mochte.

66 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an explanation and dialectical approach to economics and philosophy and economics, with a focus on exploitation, freedom, and justice, and a theory of history.
Abstract: Preface and acknowledgments Introduction 1. Explanation and dialectics Part I. Philosophy and Economics: 2. Philosophical anthropology 3. Economics 4. Exploitation, freedom and justice Part II. Theory of History: 5. Modes of production 6. Classes 7. Politics and the state 8. Ideologies 9. Capitalism, communism and revolution Conclusion references Index of names index of subjects.

803 citations

Book
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: The seeker after the truth is not one who studies the writings of the ancients and, following his natural disposition, puts his trust in them, but rather, one who suspects his faith in them and questions what he gathers from them, the one who submits to argument and demonstration, and not to the sayings of a human being whose nature is fraught with all kinds of imperfection and deformation as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Therefore, the seeker after the truth is not one who studies the writings of the ancients and, following his natural disposition, puts his trust in them, but rather the one who suspects his faith in them and questions what he gathers from them, the one who submits to argument and demonstration, and not to the sayings of a human being whose nature is fraught with all kinds of imperfection and de‹ciency. Thus the duty of the man who investigates the writings of scientists, if learning the truth is his goal, is to make himself the enemy of all that he reads, and, applying his mind to the core and margins of its content, attack it from every side. He should also suspect himself as he performs his critical examination of it, so that he may avoid falling into either prejudice or leniency. (Ibn al-Haytham)1

512 citations