Audrey Alejandro
@audreyalejandro.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.2K following 56 posts
Associate Professor & Methodological Artist London School of Economics Discourse, Knowledge, Reflexivity, International Relations Convener @DoingIPS | PhD Sciences Po Bx https://www.audreyalejandro.com/publications.html
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audreyalejandro.bsky.social
🔥 New article "Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision" published with @ejir.bsky.social in #openaccess: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

@lsemethodology.bsky.social

#Technique #malecircumcision #expertise #Weber #Foucault #Habermas #VMMC
Abstract to the article "Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision" :
How does social actors’ engagement with the technical dimensions of world politics—from material infrastructures to modeling, engineering, bureaucracy, and discourses of expertise—bring about specific social configurations and political effects? To answer this research problem, International Relations scholars have growingly mobilized the idea of technicization to investigate the relationship between knowledge, governance, socio-political reproduction, and social change. However, despite this interest, technicization has been neither conceptualized nor theorized. I argue that this absence limits our understanding of how technicality affects world politics and leads to the literature taking depoliticization as the default interpretation. To address this issue, this article develops three conceptualizations of technicization by distinguishing between the theoretical traditions underpinning this idea across social sciences. I introduce to International Relations the concept of technicization as desociologization based on the Habermassian concepts of technique and practice, which I distinguish from technicization as depoliticization (Weberian) and technicization as disciplinarization (Foucauldian) most commonly encountered in the literature. I illustrate the utility of disentangling these approaches through the case study of the history of the medicalization of male circumcision and its use as a global health anti-HIV policy since 2007. Overall, this article lays solid theoretical foundations for a more structured conversation about knowledge- and discourse-related processes dealing with the technical dimensions of world politics and beyond.
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
📭 Just published: The Case for Asking “What Is This a Case Of?”
My students pushed me to write this — maybe yours will find it useful too.
Curious what you think!
#caseselection #methodology #researchdesign #researchmethods
www.audreyalejandro.com/the-methodol...
@lsemethodology.bsky.social
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Thank you for the invitation. It was great!
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
bachl.bsky.social
Very nice location for our 4th DiMES workshop today with @audreyalejandro.bsky.social. Thanks to @jojukao.bsky.social for organizing and @dennmis.bsky.social for setting us up in Villa Engler @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social

www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/soziologi...
Pic of villa engler
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
ejir.bsky.social
Summer is there with a new issue of the European Journal of International Relations- Vol. 31, issue 2!

🧵In this thread you can find all the articles included:

📚Read the full issue here: t1p.de/0grt2
European Journal of International Relations - Volume 31, Number 2
Table of contents for European Journal of International Relations, 31, 2
t1p.de
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
🔥 New article "Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision" published with @ejir.bsky.social in #openaccess: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

@lsemethodology.bsky.social

#Technique #malecircumcision #expertise #Weber #Foucault #Habermas #VMMC
Abstract to the article "Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision" :
How does social actors’ engagement with the technical dimensions of world politics—from material infrastructures to modeling, engineering, bureaucracy, and discourses of expertise—bring about specific social configurations and political effects? To answer this research problem, International Relations scholars have growingly mobilized the idea of technicization to investigate the relationship between knowledge, governance, socio-political reproduction, and social change. However, despite this interest, technicization has been neither conceptualized nor theorized. I argue that this absence limits our understanding of how technicality affects world politics and leads to the literature taking depoliticization as the default interpretation. To address this issue, this article develops three conceptualizations of technicization by distinguishing between the theoretical traditions underpinning this idea across social sciences. I introduce to International Relations the concept of technicization as desociologization based on the Habermassian concepts of technique and practice, which I distinguish from technicization as depoliticization (Weberian) and technicization as disciplinarization (Foucauldian) most commonly encountered in the literature. I illustrate the utility of disentangling these approaches through the case study of the history of the medicalization of male circumcision and its use as a global health anti-HIV policy since 2007. Overall, this article lays solid theoretical foundations for a more structured conversation about knowledge- and discourse-related processes dealing with the technical dimensions of world politics and beyond.
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
❤️❤️❤️Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!! 🤓
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
I develop three conceptualisation of technicization:
1. Technicization as depoliticization (Weberian)
2. Technicization as disciplinarization (Foucauldian)
3. Technicization as desociologization (Habermassian)

It is my first paper that is really a #socialtheory / #politicaltheory paper 😍🤓
Table synthesising the three conceptualisation of technicization introduced in the article
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
I illustrate the interest of theorising and disentangling these conceptualisation of #technicisation based on the case study of the history of the medicalisation of male circumcision.
Conclusion

Throughout its history, male circumcision has remained a social practice embedded in and productive of social norms, for example relating to the management of sexuality. During the first stage of its medicalization, male circumcision was explicitly associated with such social/moral roles. It is during the remedicalization of male circumcision that it became technicized (in the Habermassian sense)—presented as a socially neutral procedure while continuing to perform some of its pre-medicalized social roles and acquiring new ones. On the one hand, the medicalization of male circumcision does not fit a case of technicization as depoliticization. Male circumcision has traditionally been the remit of initiatory and religious authorities before becoming the remit of medical experts, without being the object of public debate. On the other hand, the medicalization of male circumcision does not fit a case of technicization as disciplinarization either. Medicalized male circumcision has been used as a tool of social organization long before the emergence of modern states and their techniques of power—i.e. its non-technicized roles produce social order while pre-existing the emergence of modern forms of governmentality. Moreover, the relation between technicization and knowledge in this case does not follow the Foucauldian model. Rather than regulating behaviors by making an object of governance visible through knowledge, the practice is promoted while knowledge about it is either missing or non-consensual.
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Yes, have you published on discourse?
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
lsemethodology.bsky.social
We're also hiring an LSE Fellow in Qualitative Methods👏

We are seeking to appoint an individual with established research interests and teaching experience in qualitative methods 🌎

For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
graphic that reads 'we're hiring: LSE Fellow in Qualitative Methods. Applications close: 27 April 2025. For more information and to apply, please visit www.jobs.lse.ac.uk'
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Based on the history of methods & methodological debates in IR, I argue that the current promotion of methods in IR challenges the ‘critical vs non-critical’ divide & argue that pro-methods critical scholarship is currently engaged in a process of de-technicisation of methods.
Methods are generally considered a key dimension of social science research and of the craft of producing knowledge in academic settings. Methods can be understood as sets of techniques and practices that offer overall guidance, structure and coherence regarding how we produce knowledge. They invite us to disclose the underpinnings behind the research choices we make and be explicit about the steps, tasks and procedures through which we conduct research.

This entry first defines what falls under the scope of ‘methods’. It then traces the development of methods in International Relations (IR). The third section provides an overview of current debates around the question of methods in IR. The conclusion sketches out the potential implications of and directions for the future of methods in IR.
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
dandekadt.bsky.social
Just to reiterate, these are really good post-docs: Relatively low teaching load (and the teaching is usually interesting and helpful from a career-perspective), friendly and supportive community, and a focus on helping you produce research and launch a career.

Many very successful alumni!
lsemethodology.bsky.social
We're hiring an LSE Fellow in Advanced Quantitative Methods❗

The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s teaching activities through seminar teaching, methods surgeries, and dissertation/capstone supervision.

For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
graphic that reads 'we're hiring: LSE Fellow in Advanced Quantitative Methods. Applications close: 27 April 2025. For more information and to apply, please visit www.jobs.lse.ac.uk'
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
📣 Beate Jahn & Sebastian Schindler's new Encyclopedia of #InternationalRelations is OUT!

Very proud to have contributed to the entry "#Methods" that I wrote as an introduction to methods for IR students. DM if you want the manuscript.
www.elgaronline.com/display/book...
www.elgaronline.com
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Happy to have become an affiliate of LSE Data Science Institute & pursue there my interest in building the bridge between Computational Social Science and Qualitative Research 🎉 Have a 👀 at this wonderful team of scholars: www.lse.ac.uk/DSI
@lsedatascience.bsky.social @lsemethodology.bsky.social
Data Science Institute
Discover the LSE Data Science Institute that leads and forms the institutional cornerstone of activity in data science at the London School of Economics
www.lse.ac.uk
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Happy to have become an affiliate of LSE Data Science Institute & pursue there my interest in building the bridge between Computational Social Science and Qualitative Research 🎉 Have a 👀 at this wonderful team of scholars: www.lse.ac.uk/DSI
@lsedatascience.bsky.social @lsemethodology.bsky.social
Data Science Institute
Discover the LSE Data Science Institute that leads and forms the institutional cornerstone of activity in data science at the London School of Economics
www.lse.ac.uk
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
Based on the history of methods & methodological debates in IR, I argue that the current promotion of methods in IR challenges the ‘critical vs non-critical’ divide & argue that pro-methods critical scholarship is currently engaged in a process of de-technicisation of methods.
Methods are generally considered a key dimension of social science research and of the craft of producing knowledge in academic settings. Methods can be understood as sets of techniques and practices that offer overall guidance, structure and coherence regarding how we produce knowledge. They invite us to disclose the underpinnings behind the research choices we make and be explicit about the steps, tasks and procedures through which we conduct research.

This entry first defines what falls under the scope of ‘methods’. It then traces the development of methods in International Relations (IR). The third section provides an overview of current debates around the question of methods in IR. The conclusion sketches out the potential implications of and directions for the future of methods in IR.
audreyalejandro.bsky.social
📣 Beate Jahn & Sebastian Schindler's new Encyclopedia of #InternationalRelations is OUT!

Very proud to have contributed to the entry "#Methods" that I wrote as an introduction to methods for IR students. DM if you want the manuscript.
www.elgaronline.com/display/book...
www.elgaronline.com
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
lsemethodology.bsky.social
📣Call for papers!

1️⃣ week left to send your 250-word abstract for @audreyalejandro.bsky.social and ‪@dandekadt.bsky.social‬'s two-day workshop on "Computational Social Science meets Qualitative Research"

Learn more➡️ www.lse.ac.uk/Methodology/...

@lsedatascience.bsky.social
AI generated photograph featuring a group of people sat around a table and code overlayed
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
lsemethodology.bsky.social
💡 New article

@audreyalejandro.bsky.social‬ latest article focuses on "Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision"

Read more here ➡️
Conceptualizing technicization: the history of the medicalization of male circumcision
journals.sagepub.com
Reposted by Audrey Alejandro
lsemethodology.bsky.social
There's still time to nominate!🌠
lsemethodology.bsky.social
The @lsesu.bsky.social Teaching Awards are back for 24-25!

Is there a member of staff who has had a big impact on your time at LSE? 🌟

Check out the categories and details and nominate by 23 March➡️ buff.ly/z3UjoZK

Your nominations mean a lot! 👨‍🏫
Teaching Awards 2024-25
The Teaching Awards are back for 24-25! LSE Students' Union wants to hear from our students about the staff who have made their year incredible. Academic staff, professional services staff, or whole…
www.lsesu.com