Relational case-study design

Case studies are widely used in the social sciences. However, while a frequently revisited topic, the design of case-study research contains unresolved issues. Namely, these are the issues of generalizability, the role of theory and the empirical aspects of the design process like contextualization. In this paper, I revisit recent debates on case-study research in the social sciences, and offer relational case-study research design as advantageous in addressing these recurring issues. I also outline actionable steps and highlight analytical choices that ensure that the design process is not led astray due to terminological ambiguity. This approach offers case-study research both analytical justification for generalizability as well as methodological tools for the empirical design of case studies.