Discourse theory and the turn to practice

Abstract

This introductory article to the special issue on Discourse Theory and the Turn to Practice, takes the questions and tensions identified through the intensive study of populism as starting point for reflections on Discourse Theory as a framework for the study of political practice more broadly. Its aims are partly organizational and partly agenda-setting. Organizationally, it draws together major discussions and developments in Discourse Theory over the last ten years or so, especially those produced through an engagement with populism. Building on this, it points toward new frontiers for the development of Discourse Theory, organized around three dimensions of what could be called a ‘turn to practice’: (i) beyond ontology, (ii) beyond language, and (iii) beyond populism and (antagonistic) politics. After discussing how each of them play out in the study of populism, the article reflects on what taking seriously such a ‘turn to practice’ would mean for DT.