Practices of comparing shape how we perceive organize and change the world. Supposedly
innocent practices of comparing play a decisive role in forming categories boundaries and
hierarchies but they can also give an impetus to question and change such structures. Like
almost no other human practice comparing pervades all social political economic and
cultural spheres. This volume outlines the program of a new research agenda that places
comparative practices at the center of an interdisciplinary exploration. Its contributions
combine case studies with overarching systematic considerations. They show what insights can be
gained and which further questions arise when one makes a seemingly trivial practice -
comparing - the subject of in-depth research.
