Relationalism in Political Theory and Research: The Challenge of Networked Politics and Policy-Making

Abstract

Political theory and research approaches are in most cases not explicit in all respects, but are usually shaped by implicit background theories and scientific worldviews, e.g. presuppositions and par adigms. Examples are idealism, materialism or institutionalism. A fairly new perspective in this regard is relationalism. This way of thinking, in its ontological orientation, conceives the world only in terms of relations. Research programmes with a relationalist orientation put this idea into practice with methods of social network analysis which are more and more used also in political science. Several variants of this new -ism and type of network thinking are presented in this paper in a critical perspective. Relationalism is ultimately seen as fruitful perspective, but is seen as limited in its explanatory power, though. It should therefore always be combined with other approaches and perspectives.

On the Norms and Habits of the European Union as a Meta-organisation

“…In the meantime, much less noted organisation theory (tektology) by Russian revolutionary and analyst Alexander Bogdanov could also turn out to be of use when discussing today the pertinence of practice turn in international relations for the study of the EU role (Bogdanov 1984). With such considerations in mind, this article attempts to take stock of the current IR theories being employed to study the EU's international influence, so as to deliver some additional methodological reflection with the Croatian International Relations Review -CIRR -XXVI (87) 2020, 6-31 intention of stressing the importance of designedly describing the world with and around the EU in terms of relations, primarily or exclusively (Schneider 2015).…”