Methods of normative political theory

The section of methods in political theory at the ECPR general conference has been a central venue for discussion of methodology since it began in 2016. These sections organized regularly have been recently solidified by creating of a standing group of Methods of Normative Political Theory, by the approval of ECPR Executive Committee in 2022. The standing group has significantly contributed to the ‘methodological turn’ and to the bourgeoning literature in political theory methodology (Dowding, 2020) (2022) (Perez, 2020). As an active network in the framework of the ECPR, it has its quarterly newsletters; organized various events including Joint Sessions of Workshops (2022, 2023) and Winter School (2022). Until the last year, the events mostly focused on general methodological debates, emphasizing the diversity of approaches oriented significantly around ‘how to do’ political theory. Last year witnessed a new development in the standing group’s section with panels going beyond these general methodological debates to specific questions. Just as explicit ‘how to’ questions develop from ‘general debates’, more exploratory and experimental conversations about methodology follow on from specific guidance. 2024 will still have space for both general debates and ‘how to’ instruction, but the predominant theme of this section proposal is exploratory and experimental methods, with consideration of how this could improve diversity and inclusivity. Following the idea that methods are a ‘toolbox’ we go to, in order to find the right tool for the job, we particularly invite theorists to submit innovative, even ‘unready’ ideas, with the presumption that a conference is a space to be experimental.