Strategic Ontologies: Narrative and Meso-Level Theorizing in International Politics

Abstract This paper offers a theory of incremental theoretical evolution connecting the practice international politics with disciplinary IR. It theorizes how political actors engaged in strategic local decision-making exert productive power over dominant scientific ontologies system. We refer to narratives emerging from these processes as ontologies, defined gradual reformulations subjects, objects, and relational logics system according positionally determined priorities. As gain acceptance, their innovations endure beyond context utterance, leading meso-level evolution. substantiate this account comparative case studies contested that have yet become either arena or IR theory. Without ontology an analytical lens, scholarship might miss embryonic process gaining traction. First, we examine Israel West Germany ontological contestation when negotiating reparations agreement following Holocaust. Second, analyze states used vulnerability climate negotiations 2020–2021 recast global policy Recognition across contexts illuminates real-time opens path for dynamic new bridges between academy policymaking.