Response: Matters of (im)mobility: beyond fast conceptual and methodological readings in policy sociology

• Published in: Critical studies in education 2021-05, Vol.62 (3), p.394-410
• Main Authors: McKenzie, Marcia, Lewis, Steven, Gulson, Kalervo N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Critical Theory; Education policy; Educational Policy; Educational Sociology; Geographic Location; Global Approach; Globalisation; Globalization; Methodology; Mobility; Policy Analysis; Policy formation; Policy implementation; Policy mobilities; Policy sociology; Research Methodology; Social Problems; Sociology; Temporality; Time
• ISSN: 1750-8487; 1750-8495
• DOI: 10.1080/17508487.2021.1942942

In this special issue response paper, we pick up from prior discussions to suggest areas where we think policy sociology can benefit from further conversation and research. In particular, we bring together our respective readings and work on policy mobilities, in conversation with the contributions of this special issue, to think further about what policy mobilities and related orientations can bring to the development of policy sociology. We specifically focus our attention on four areas for further conceptual and methodological extension in relation to policy mobilities and related approaches in policy sociology of education: (i) temporality, (ii) scale, (iii) land, and, finally, (iv) methodological diversity. In doing so, we advocate against 'fast' readings of literature from other fields, while emphasizing the value of transdisciplinary work in policy sociology and critical policy studies.