The Interpretation, Method & Critique (IMC) is an ANU-based initiative aiming to promote interpretive political and social scientific research through undergraduate and graduate student training, workshops, seminars, publications, podcasts, and cohort building. We are affiliated with the Interpretive Methods Research Group at the Australian Political Studies Association.

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THE INTERPRETIVE METHODS RESEARCH GROUP

The Interpretive Methods Research Group is a newly established specialist group of the Australian Political Studies Association. To join, visit the link, click the Join Group button and follow the prompts. (You must be a member of APSA). 

More information on the group and its planned activities will be available soon.

SPECIAL ISSUE

Doing Interpretive Political Science - in Australia

The Australian Journal of Political Science (59.4, 2025) has published a special issue edited by April Biccum and Nick Cheesman on the topic of doing interpretive political science - in Australia. In addition to the editors' contributions it includes articles by Jack Boswell, John Corbett and R.A.W. Rhodes; Severine van Bommel, Sarah Ball, and William A. Howe. All articles are open access.

SEMINARS

The IMC hosts a Seminar Series which promotes and celebrates work in interpretive and critical methodologies and methods in the social sciences. For more information visit the series page.

PODCAST

Nick Cheesman talks with authors and editors of books on the epistemologies and methodologies of interpretive political and social science, as well as authors of exemplary interpretivist monographs, streaming on the New Books in Political Science channel.

New Books in Interpretive Political and Social Science

COURSES

The IMC also trains undergraduate, undergraduate honours and graduate students in interpretive methodologies and methods. Here are our current offerings. 

POLS2137 Meaning in Politics (Syllabus)

POLS4047 Interpretation, Method & Critique (Syllabus)

POLS8047 Interpretation, Method & Critique (Syllabus)

Historical Activities

• WORKSHOP: Interpretive Methods @ APSA

Held concurrently with the 2025 APSA Conference at the University of Melbourne, this workshop will train participants in interpretive methodologies and methods for political scientists. Current Higher Degree Research students and Early Career Researchers who are attending the conference are eligible to apply. Participants from the ANU are eligible to apply for a stipend to cover costs of travel and accommodation for the conference. The instructors are: from ANU, April Biccum, Nick Cheesman, Colette Einfeld and Helen Sullivan; as well as Jack Corbett (Monash), Stefanie Fishel (USC), and Cai Wilkinson (Deakin).

• CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: THIS CALL HAS NOW CLOSED

Interpretive Methods Research Group panels at APSA 2025

The Interpretive Methods Research Group invites submissions of research paper abstracts for its special organised panels at the 2025 Australian Political Studies Association annual conference in Melbourne on November 24-27. Submissions can relate to any aspect of the design, conduct or instruction of interpretive research methodologies and methods in political science, international relations and public policy, in Australia or abroad.

Research students and early-career researchers whose submissions are accepted to panels organised by the Group will be invited to join a workshop on interpretive research methods run in parallel with the conference. They may be eligible for a strictly limited number of supplementary travel bursaries, with the support of a Strategic Teaching and Learning Grant from the Australian National University.

To submit an abstract, follow the instructions provided on the APSA website. When submitting the proposal, be sure to select Interpretive Methods from the drop-down menu under “Research stream”. In the field for “Roundtable or full panel” type, Interpretive Methods Research Group. The deadline for submissions is July 4 2025.