The New Constructivism - David McCourt | Ep. 3 (2026)

The New Constructivism - David McCourt | Ep. 3 (2026)

From The IR thinker by Martin Zubko

March 10, 2026 · 1h 10m · Season 2026 · Episode 3

About this episode

Professor McCourt discusses the foundations and implications of New Constructivism in social science.

In this episode, Professor McCourt unpacks the foundations of New Constructivism: where it came from, what it demands of researchers, and where it's heading. From the theory/method distinction to the practice and relational turns, from C. Wright Mills to Multiple Correspondence Analysis, this is a wide-ranging conversation about how social science can move beyond positivist inheritances without losing analytical rigor. We also explore New Constructivism's blind spots, its uneven development across the US and Europe.  David McCourt David McCourt  is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Davis, where he teaches sociological and international theory. His research sits at the intersection of political sociology and international relations, with a focus on the social foundations of state action in world politics. Empirically, his work centres on the foreign policies of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Theoretically, he usually draws on constructivist, practice-based, and relational approaches to examine how states define and enact their roles on the international stage. Publications: Constructivism’s…

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