Description
Process Tracing (PT) is a qualitative research method that investigates causal mechanisms through detailed case studies. Although widely adopted in political science, its integration with the study of emotions—a growing focus in International Relations—remains underexplored. This article examines the risks, challenges, and opportunities of incorporating emotions as causal mechanisms within PT.
Emotions, often analysed through discourse, are subject to scepticism regarding their traceability and role as causal agents. However, this article argues that emotions leave discernible traces that can be systematically examined in political contexts. Drawing on Social PT, the study utilises ‘experience-near’ data to explore how the perceptions of both senders and receivers of emotions influence political actions. By linking emotions with observable behaviours, the article illuminates how actors interpret and respond to others' actions, emphasising emotions as critical drivers in political processes.
The article makes a three-fold contribution. First, it reviews how emotions have been treated in PT literature, identifying gaps arising from their under- or over-socialisation. Second, it proposes a conceptual framework that incorporates emotions into PT, bridging theoretical and methodological approaches. Finally, it demonstrates this framework through a practical reconstruction of a published PT case study, illustrating how emotions can be traced.
By addressing challenges such as the subjective and context-dependent nature of emotions, this article develops a methodological strategy for tracing emotions as causal mechanisms. It advances a more emotion-sensitive PT approach, enriching scholarship in International Relations and extending the applicability of PT across the social sciences.
