Abstract
The Conduct of Inquiry is a tour de force that carefully unpacks the idea of ‘inquiry’ in International Relations and reconstructs debates surrounding this issue in a way Jackson believes will foster genuine debate and, potentially at least, facilitate progress in the discipline. However, it is not without its problems. In this contribution to the forum, I present three challenges to Jackson’s position. Firstly, I challenge the validity of the monism–dualism split that he believes underpins all approaches to the field. Secondly, I take issue with Jackson’s account of science and methodology. Thirdly, I briefly highlight some problems with Jackson’s account of pluralism and argue that it fails to provide the conditions of possibility for ‘engagement’ that Jackson is so committed to.
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