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The Journal of Critical Realism has issued a call for papers for a special issue on "critical realism and the self." The concept of the self is seen as crucial for social change and emancipatory theorizing. The special issue aims to explore various aspects of the self, including subjectivity, reflexivity, authenticity, personhood, and identity. Submissions can be theoretical or applied, and can engage with critical realism or critique it. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2024, and the final papers are required by November 19, 2024. [Extracted from the article]

The Journal of Critical Realism has issued a call for papers for a special issue on Morphogenetic Régulation (MR). MR is a theoretical and methodological framework that examines complex systemic transformations within contemporary capitalism. It builds on the Immanent Causality Morphogenetic Approach (ICMA) introduced by Knio in 2018, which combines Margaret Archer's Morphogenetic Analysis with Spinoza's concept of immanent causality. The call for papers invites contributions that apply MR to various themes and disciplines in the social sciences. The submission deadline for full papers is September 31, 2024, and all papers will undergo peer review. [Extracted from the article]

Critical realists would argue that they do; and lay much of the blame at the door of mainstream science's actualism, in which correlational knowledge is held to be the ultimate guide to causation. For critical realists, therefore, statistical correlations are not the be-all and end-all of science; they prefer to understand causation in terms of the causal powers of things. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines trends, challenges and opportunities in terms of research methodologies in qualitative IB research. In particular, it examines trends for the dominant (positivism/(post)positivism) paradigm versus alternative paradigms (i.e., social constructivism, critical realism and interpretivism) and provides a comparative analysis of data collection and methods. Using mixed methods to collect and analyze data on qualitative articles published in International Business Review, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, and Management International Review, we examine trends and differences between the dominant and alternative paradigms and use qualitative content analysis to investigate how alternative paradigm papers are conceptualized and presented. Moreover, we interview authors of non-positivist papers to gain in-depth understanding of the findings. We reveal differences across the paradigms and provide evidence of paradigmatic fit between methods and data collection techniques for the dominant paradigm, but more variation for alternative paradigms. Lastly, we provide prescriptions for IB scholars in terms of methodology diversity and how complex IB phenomena can be pursued vis-a-vis alternative paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explores and dissects the philosophical roots of neo-classical realism. The analysis aims to disclose the theoretical underpinnings of this framework that enable it to describe the state’s behavior. The analysis is based upon a comparative approach that helps to understand the complex synthesis scheme of the neo-classical realist framework. The neo-classical realism is based upon an extensive array of internal and external sets of variables that help to explain foreign policy actions. The bedrock of foreign policy behavior of a state is intricately woven from these interplaying variables. As a matter of fact, the neoclassical realist perspective on security and the distribution of power lays the foundation for the analysis of foreign policy behavior of states. The discussion reveals that the major portions of its attributes are constructed through neo-realist routes synthesizing the domestic intervening variables. Though the framework has the capacity to incorporate complexities of foreign policy and decision-making, however, it cannot be considered an independent theory for foreign policy studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PhD by publication, a route of attaining a 'doctorate', is growing in adoption, yet has not gained universal acceptance. Whilst doctoral students are expected to free range, be independent in their study, and contribute to knowledge, there is a tendency to be schooled or mainly assessed along the lines of positivism and interpretivism. This paper, in part the author's situational reflexivity and noting Liezel Frick's "PhD by publication – panacea or paralysis?", carried out a documentary analysis of academic regulations of 101 universities in the UK, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, and examined the literature for demi-regularities supporting or inhibiting critical realism in doctoral studies. It followed a (multimethod) plural approach. The examination revealed that critical realism is sparse in doctoral studies, and universities do not cohere in nomenclature and 'form' of PhD by publication. In filling the 'free range' gap, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on PhD by publication by introducing the IDADA ('identify', 'define', 'analyse', 'develop' and 'apply') methodological framework. The framework evolved from the demi-regularities understudied. IDADA is a practical solution-centric, methodological approach to PhD by publication. The paper calls on researchers and practitioners to be open to structured and 'alternate' approaches to research whilst ensuring ontological, epistemological, and axiomatic rigour. Researchers need not approach research religiously — as that of a particular paradigm sect; but rather embrace 'practical adequacy'. Doctoral students should be encouraged to produce research output with more significant impact through interrogation and unearthing phenomena rather than just "observing, outlining and discussing findings" or conforming to 'writing style'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submission by 31st July 2021 The relationship between pragmatism and critical realism is open to many interpretations. The situation is complicated by the diversity of pragmatist perspectives and indeed the variety of interpretations of critical realism. Papers are invited for a special issue of I Journal of Critical Realism i which examine any aspect of the relationship between pragmatism and critical realism, from any disciplinary perspective. [Extracted from the article]

In the context of a need for finding and enabling alternatives to unequal and extractivist perspectives on development, growth, and human well-being, this positioning paper explores possibilities for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education with an education for sustainable development focus that counters disciplinary alienations particularly between the arts and the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. The paper argues that unnecessary alienations between culturalemblematic and mathematical-logical epistemes, especially those linked to narrow interpretations and restricted developments in dialogism and dialectics, respectively, are influenced by restricted understandings of epistemological, ontological, and praxiological philosophical drivers in meaning making and responsive action. In response, the paper develops a series of philosophical principles that, it argues, could usefully underpin STEAM education practices. These are a) iterations of epistemological expansion and contraction (in response to monologic meaning making), b) an expansive and deepening ontology (in response to ontological collapse in describing the world), c) critical and judgmental rationality (finding a middle ground between radical relativism and dogma), and d) concrete utopianism (in response to idealism and additive holisticism). The emergence of the four philosophical principles is developed through illustrative examples of a broad range of arts (fine art, performance art, photography, film, poetry, prose, and music). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of Performance Analysis (PA) in elite team sports and the increasing research in this field. It focuses on a recent paper by Martin et al. that examines the characteristics and constraints of the performance analyst role. The article critiques the use of critical realism as the research philosophy and calls for more detail on how it was applied. It also questions the generalizability of the findings across different sporting environments and suggests the need for context-based roles and responsibilities for analysts. Overall, the article acknowledges the value of the paper in advancing knowledge but highlights the need for further engagement in the philosophical and scientific debate surrounding critical realism. [Extracted from the article]

Marketing systems, while being pivotal to contemporary progress, have been linked to multifaceted global challenges, notably increasing inequalities and accelerated climate change repercussions. These challenges are not natural phenomena, but rather, human-induced crises, emerging predominantly from flawed systems of perception and action. Unfortunately, these flawed perspectives are also embedded within research and theoretical practices, leading to overly simplistic and disjointed results. This paper champions the introduction and application of corrective metatheories, specifically targeting these tendencies of reductionism, to bring coherence to the various domains of existence – be they subjective, intersubjective, interobjective, or objective. Using Roy Bhaskar's philosophy of critical realism, this paper elucidates how this particular metatheoretical approach can address the complexities inherent to marketing systems. Through Critical Realism, the paper aims to challenge reductionist narratives, critique societal shortcomings, and promotes both individual and collective potentials to support overall flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analysis (the statistical combination of a set of studies in a given area, with the aim of establishing an overall or average effect of something) is increasingly common in work and organization studies. Critiques of meta-analysis are now common. There is also a well-known alternative based in realism. The purpose in bringing together the two papers by Nielsen and Miraglia and by Vincent and colleagues is not to rehearse the critiques or simply explain realism or realist evaluation. The two papers certainly perform these functions in setting out problems with meta-analysis and also identifying when and to what extent it remains valid. The goal, however, is to move forward by showing what a realist synthesis would look like and illustrating how it works. Vincent and colleagues lay out the principles, while Nielsen and Miraglia take the case of intervention studies to show how realist evaluation works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thematic analysis (TA) is one of the most popular methods in social science. There are several different approaches to TA that hold different ontological commitments, ranging from positivistic coding reliability TA to constructivist reflexive TA. However, there has been less focus on developing an approach that is informed by critical realism, with the notable exception of Wiltshire and Ronkainen. The first part of this paper proposes a five-step critical realist approach to TA. This approach aims to produce nuanced causal explanations of events, countering the mistaken assumption that qualitative research cannot produce causal knowledge. The second part of the paper brings this critical realist approach to TA into conversation with three alternatives: coding reliability, reflexive, and Wiltshire and Ronkainen's approach. The approach to TA in this paper builds on the strengths of these alternatives, offering an accessible way to adopt a critical realist philosophical grounding when doing TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frédéric Vandenberghe's paper in this edition describes critical realism as a 'scientific, social and spiritual movement that wants to change not only our conception of sciences, but also the world, starting with ourselves'. In September 2021, Rhodes University's Environmental Learning Research Centre, together with WITS's Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL), hosted The 24 SP th sp annual International Association of Critical Realism conference online. Reciprocally, Vandenberghe highlights the role that critical realism plays in bringing hermeneutics "back into the world" by giving it a referent (Vandenberghe [8], this issue). Another significant challenge to Bhaskar's critical realism offered by Vandenberghe is in the relationship between the transitive and intransitive specifically in the social sciences. [Extracted from the article]

Drawing on an existing debate regarding the conservation of living heritage, this paper delves into the dissonance and contestation that emerges during the aesthetic treatment of religious wall paintings. The Cypriot UNESCO painted churches open a window for the examination of how policy makers, clergy and visitors negotiate the materiality of religion. This multi-method qualitative comparative case study aims to understand how the 'material-focused' Authorised Heritage Discourse retains its hegemony during the conservation of living heritage and how AHD-led practices ('preserve as found' strategy) impact visitors' perceived authenticity and experience. The findings demonstrate that over the years, a centralised decision-making system has been maintained in Cyprus that limits polyvocality, perpetuating AHD-led practices. However, evidence of reconciliation between AHD and living tradition was found, challenging the current assumption that considers anti-restoration (objective authenticity) and living religious tradition as antithetic practices. Interviews showcased that for most social agents, deliberate damage, patina, and graffiti triggered an immersive and highly reflective experience while the prospect of restoration provoked 'pre-nostalgia,' a self-awareness that restoration may result in significant cultural loss. The paper concludes that, in future conservation and interpretation strategies, 'evidence of time' should be considered a salient quality of 'heritaged' churches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present the case for critical realism (CR) as a framework in steering the anticipatory and participatory activities an appropriate analysis of complex problems, aiming toward a transformative change. Design/methodology/approach: Through observation, interview and facilitation for Circular Design Lab and Thai Clean Air Network, this paper unpacks their foresight activities, their key findings and subsequently connects to the Morphogenesis analysis based on an alternative foresight epistemology of CR. Findings: Foresight based on CR philosophy provides a deeper understanding of the complexity and invisibility of air pollution issues in Thailand. Acknowledging the transitive reality beyond this study's perception, the activity design applies the iceberg models to investigate problem framing and illustrate the stratified reality in three domains: the empirical based on emission reports and legislative regulations; the actual based on patterns of farmers practice and industrial development, activated by causal mechanisms; the real based on structural and mental models, driven by cultural and belief systems in Thailand. At the bottom layer of the iceberg, the real lies the generative mechanisms of pre-existing structural and cultures that constrain Thai citizen from acting on social change. Research limitations/implications: CR's emancipatory theory provides an immanent critique towards social improvement by illustrating comprehensive causal explanations of complex problems such as air pollution; while morphogenesis theory elaborates on the unconscious domination of the existing social structures, agencies, and cultures. Thus, the ethical inquiry of CR research is committed to the emancipation of false beliefs and creating conditions for "human prosperity". However, this non-neutral value commitment is debated in the futures studies field. Practical implications: The anticipatory activities on air pollution in Thailand bring to light the reality of power and oppression beyond human perception and illustrate the connection to the belief systems and its consequential action or lack thereof in dealing with the issues. The insight to power relationship provides an unconventional way to empower citizens in creating transformative change. Originality/value: Modern foresight practice has developed under western cultures and societies. Recent efforts are made to investigate the epistemology underlying this field, for the future issues are ever more complex and interrelated across multiple sectors. This requires this study's consideration of the meaning of knowledge and knowing, influencing the research paradigm. This paper proposes CR as a suitable foresight approach to emancipate this study from the widely accepted epistemologies and examine this study's presupposition about social reality by a philosophical explanation based on the elements of ontology, causation, structure and persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability within food systems (FS) transcends approaches that only consider FS transformation via changing agricultural practices or consumption patterns. The essence lies in addressing the root causes of current unsustainable FS and their associated social and environmental ramifications. This paper aims to outline the solutions needed to revamp these challenges, by paying special attention to the state-capital nexus in the context of the FS'global core-periphery dialectics. Thereby, we embrace radical political agroecology as being essential in promoting sustainability within the FS, especially in the Global South. Agroecology is proposed as the strategy to address the food system's complexity in terms of the social, environmental, and economic embeddedness. We conclude with potential solutions that contribute to the pathway for FS sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how indigenous African communities have become critical for developing epistemologies of relation and entanglement in the dominant problem of contemporary resilience understandings of adaptation in the Anthropocene imaginary. Grounded in the indigenous African epistemological philosophies, this paper explores critical alternative futural framings that directly oppose the modernist epistemological understandings of resilience imaginaries in the Anthropocene. The analysis presented here is based on understanding indigenous non-modern ways of knowing as key in the context of ecological crisis in the Anthropocene resilience. This paper argues that reductionist modernist epistemology fails to fully acknowledge how alternative futural imaginaries of indigenous non-modern ways of knowing have become central to critical Anthropocene resilience approaches in the discipline of International Relations. In contrast, this paper explores indigenous African epistemologies of relation and entanglement as alternative futural imaginaries that better capture resilience climate adaptation in the Anthropocene. The paper concludes that focusing on resilience and understandings of adaptation in the Anthropocene opens other possibilities for the development of indigenous non-modern ways of knowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies a common process of mystification within academic knowledge production today: the treatment of subordinated groups as mere metaphors or rhetorical figures for academic theorizing. We witness it when academics ask what trans might teach us about transnationality, when we are invited to reflect on what might be queer about modern warfare, or when nation-states are described as subaltern. Trans, queer, and subaltern populations are routinely fetishized within scholarship on the "traditional" International Relations concerns of statecraft, migration, security, and so on. This tendency serves a mystifying function by disabling scholars from examining the social relations that shape and organize their lives and histories. This paper proceeds in three parts. First, to understand the origins and logics of this self-mystifying process, this paper returns, via Stuart Hall, to Karl Marx's methodological writings on abstraction. It contributes to the formalization of his methodology for contemporary IR scholarship by drawing a distinction between the fetishization of abstraction and the concretization of abstraction. Second, the paper explores how abstracted subject positions have been fetishized within three fields of international studies: trans studies, queer theory, and subaltern studies. Third, after elaborating a critique of this mystifying move, the paper outlines alternative approaches that instead seek to concretize the abstractions queer, trans, and subaltern by attending to their specific historical and social determinations. These strategies of demystification, we argue, carry forward a founding commitment of critical theory that is all too often abandoned within scholarly knowledge production today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]