Why Historical Research Frameworks Matter for Sociological Methods and Decolonial Approaches? Empire and Nation Compared with Intra- and Inter-Imperiality

Abstract

<p>Sociology faces many obstacles in coming to terms with its so-called imperial entanglements. In this<br>article, I address one of the dimensions of this problem. Much like archival sources present their own<br>histories of making and organization that researchers should be aware of, so too do disciplinary research<br>frameworks carry their own histories and historical metaprinciples of organization. I juxtapose two dif-<br>ferent ways of organizing and framing sociology's disciplinary focus historically. I call these the empire<br>and nation framework and the intra- and inter-imperial framework. Through this juxtaposition, I argue<br>for the importance of methodologically explicitly recognizing and justifying our choice of different his-<br>torical research frameworks with which sociology can operate.<br></p>