Overall, regarding my progress with my project there has been a lot of variation within the idea of what I am researching from where I began this semester. With recognition, I initially started examining Kosovo directly and examining state system theory in itself as focusing on the declaratory and constitutive theory. But as the semester has progressed it became more focused on how states choose to give or withhold recognition. To where I am today with my research there is a clear line in how from gaining deeper understandings on the topic I have progressed to where I am now. Working with my mentor has given me a broader scope on understanding recognition and analyzing puzzles like mine. There has also been a lot of perspectives when it comes to the methodology that I will be using for 306. While I will be explicitly using interpretivism for my final narrative paper as the methodology of choice, there is still quite an opening to use a small-N approach. As working up to my final narrative paper as of now, I feel comfortable in being able to add my voice to research on how powerful actors construct the identity of recognition.
For looking ahead to 306, I think the most substantial thing I could do it to keep up on readings and become better acquainted with primary resources for researching. For keeping up on the readings, this involves being aware of current events going on with recognition and being more familiar with the theory that drives the conversation. Due to being interested in looking at official discourse, I am hoping over the break to learn better how to use sources that give me access to speeches from Russian officials and US officials. Even the smaller stuff like quotes from Ambassadors and diplomats are things I need to understand how to obtain easier. I also need to emphasize understanding how Russia constructed recognition as a tool before the independence of Kosovo was declared. From what my research has led to I can comprehend what happens after. As seeing what happened before will help understand the construction of recognition.
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