Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This chapter demonstrates how a pragmatist “ethos” in international relations (IR) is a form of grounded normative theory (GNT), especially its sense that normative questions (and their answers) emerge from the lived experiences of practitioners and those affected by practice. Classical pragmatist philosophers argued that theorists risked being relegated to the sidelines of history if they did not pay proper attention to the means of improving the lived experience. The task of the theorist, therefore, is to render action intelligent, which means three things: (1) publicizing the direct and indirect consequences of action, (2) exploring problem-solving possibilities through “abductive” reasoning, and (3) mobilizing political support for those affected by, but otherwise excluded from, the communities of practice. The chapter also provides evidence of this pragmatist ethos in action. It draws on the work of contemporary cosmopolitan theorists who are committed to social and political practices that help change norms and to achieve the purpose behind the responsibility to protect (R2P) norm in particular. This has involved “impact partnerships” with civil society organizations working in the atrocity prevention sector. Understanding their efforts, successes, and failures demonstrates how ideal action is both subtler and more practical than abstract norm theory suggests.</jats:p>