The article discusses interpretive epistemology in international relations (IR) and its advantages to address the field's sociological composition, its scholars’ identity, and knowledge structuration. The research proposes to engage in sociological reflexivity on IR methods and the way in which knowledge accumulation and structuration are driven by canonical assumptions of what are considered “normal”/“good” scientific procedures. The central argument focuses on interpretive epistemological approaches as possible venues for research to participate in the collective effort to address, and redress, the imbalance between the sociology of the field and its knowledge production and structuration processes. By allowing dialogue around meanings and interpretation among increasingly diverse members, an interpretive stance on IR opens the floor to criticism and rival interpretations. More specifically, the paper presents the methodology of interpretive phenomenological analysis as a method which both emphasizes context and actor specificity with regard to the subject of study and fully acknowledges the researcher's identity and voice in scientific inquiry.

中文翻译：

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让研究人员回归：辩论解释性认识论在全球 IR 中的作用

本文讨论了国际关系 (IR) 中的解释性认识论及其在解决该领域的社会学构成、学者身份和知识结构方面的优势。该研究建议对 IR 方法进行社会学反思，以及知识积累和结构化的方式是由被认为是“正常”/“良好”科学程序的规范假设驱动的。中心论点侧重于解释性认识论方法作为研究参与集体努力的可能场所，以解决和纠正该领域的社会学与其知识生产和结构化过程之间的不平衡。通过允许在日益多样化的成员之间围绕意义和解释进行对话，对国际关系的解释性立场为批评和对立的解释敞开了大门。更具体地说，本文提出了解释现象学分析的方法论，它既强调研究主题的背景和行为者特异性，又充分承认研究人员在科学探究中的身份和声音。