Volume 1
Practice Theory: Past, Present, Future
In 2000, Ted Schatzki, Karin Knorr Cetina, and Eike von Savigny published an edited collection titled The Practice Turn in Contemporary Theory. While this collection does not mark the beginning of practice theory, it stands as a significant milestone in its history.
Twenty-five years on, the inaugural issue of The Journal of Practice Theory considers the ‘Past, Present, and Future’ of the field. Interviews and original invited articles celebrate the last twenty-five years of practice theory by reflecting on the past contributions of practice theorists to social theory and research, by taking a stand on a particular issue of widespread current interest in practice theory, or by suggesting future trajectories and next steps in this dynamic field.
To cast a look at ‘the past’, Elizabeth Shove and Manuel Baeriswyl interview three people whose careers have made a significant difference to the development of practice theory: Wanda Orlikowski, Joseph Rouse, and Stephen Turner.
In the section on ‘the present’, we invite diverse responses to the question - ‘What is the significance of the human being in practice theories?’.
To consider ‘the future’, seven contributors explore or suggest topics, challenges, unexplored terrains, and new social phenomena that they believe should be taken up in practice theoretically inspired research in the near future.
Papers will continue to appear here until the full issue is published in November 2025.