THE HISTORIOGRAPHICAL OPERATION BETWEEN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY: OBJECT, SOURCES, AND WRITING IN THE PRODUCTION OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between theory and methodology in History through the concept of the historiographical operation, understanding historical knowledge as the outcome of intellectually, technically, and narratively situated practices. Starting from debates on the object of History and source criticism, the article analyzes the constitution of the disciplinary field in the nineteenth century and its reconfigurations throughout the twentieth century, highlighting contributions from historicism, historical hermeneutics, and the Annales School. It argues that theory and methodology are not autonomous spheres but inseparable dimensions of the historian’s work, expressed in the selection, interpretation, and problematization of sources, as well as in the writing of history. By emphasizing the historicity of analytical categories, temporalities, and narrative structures, the article proposes a reflexive approach to historiographical practice that is attentive to the epistemological, social, and cultural conditions of historical knowledge production. Finally, it maintains that the historiographical operation remains a central field of inquiry in light of contemporary challenges, such as expanding regimes of memory, the diversification of sources, and the incorporation of digital tools into historical research.