In this episode, Professor David M. 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. Content 00:00 Introduction 02:37 Core Principles of New Constructivism 19:24 Is the Theory/Method Distinction Itself a Positivist Inheritance? 24:00 Methodology vs. Methods: The Root of Constructivist Misreadings 33:33 Constructivism as Classic Social Analysis: The C. Wright Mills Connection 37:25 Broadening the Methodological Repertoire Without Fetishising Technique 41:27 What Must Stay Constant as Constructivism Evolves? 46:14 Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) as a Constructivist Tool 52:15 The Practice Turn and Relational Turn in New Constructivism 57:23 Diverging Trajectories: New Constructivism in the US and Europe 01:00:43 New Constructivism, Global South Scholarship, and Postcolonialism 01:05:11 The Weakest Link: Where New Constructivism Falls Short 01:07:54 The Limits of New Constructivism: Where It Should Not Be Applied Professor 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. Profile: https://sociology.ucdavis.edu/people/david-mccourt Selected Publications: McCourt, D. (2017). Constructivism’s Contemporary Crisis and the Challenge of Reflexivity. European Review of International Studies, 3(3), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.3224/eris.v3i3.27341 McCourt, D. M. (2016). Practice Theory and Relationalism as the New Constructivism. International Studies Quarterly, 60(3), 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqw036 McCourt, D. M. (2021). Domestic Contestation Over Foreign Policy, Role-based and Otherwise: Three Cautionary Cases. Politics, 41(2), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263395720945227 McCourt, D. M. (2022). The New Constructivism in International Relations Theory. Bristol University Press. McCourt, D. M. (2024). The End of Engagement: America’s China and Russia Experts and U.S. Strategy Since 1989. Oxford University Press. McCourt, D. M. (2026). The Dragon Defined: How Washington, Canberra, and London Reimagined China. Oxford University Press. About the Host: Martin Zubko, creator and host of 'The IR thinker', is passionate about exploring global issues in international relations through in-depth discussions with leading experts. Follow & Further Resources Substack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/ X: https://x.com/irthinker_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-new-constructivism-david-mccourt-ep-3-2026/id1716817337?i=1000754483340 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/44FucbhlvTWfP1gkN5bYch Amazon Music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/a884b8f9-8ddb-4a61-97dc-8cb5a46a1915/episodes/bde3dd0e-a932-4bdf-91b0-4776944d55b7/the-ir-thinker-the-new-constructivism---david-mccourt-ep-3-2026 DISCLAIMER At ‘The IR thinker’, we foster respectful and inclusive discussion. We do not permit hate speech, discrimination (including racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia or xenophobia), personal attacks or harassment in comments. Opinions expressed by guests, contributors and commenters are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of ‘The IR thinker’ or of its host, Martin Zubko. We welcome constructive feedback to improve our content. Comments that violate these guidelines may be removed and users may be banned. All content is provided for general information only, does not constitute professional advice, and remains the intellectual property of ‘The IR thinker’. #Constructivism #IRTheory #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #theIRthinker