On Strategic Ontologies

About the Speaker
Ben O’Loughlin is a Visiting Scholar hosted by the Elliott School Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, from the University of London. He is a Professor of International Relations at Royal Holloway and the Director of the New Political Communication Unit. His research focuses on the role of communication and technology in which power and influence operate.  

About the Talk
In his recent paper titled Strategic Ontologies: Narrative and Meso-Level Theorizing in International Politics, Dr. O’Loughlin offers a new theory of incremental theoretical evolution that connects the practice of international politics with disciplinary IR. This research theorizes how international political actors participating in tactical local decision-making influence scientific ontologies in the global system subtly. Recognizing ontology strategies opens a path for IR scholars to better appreciate practitioners’ theoretical contributions, bridging the gap between the academy and policymaking in new dynamic ways.