Paper short abstract:

This paper explores first, the role of materiality via documents such as contracts in formal and informal meetings and second, how different norms and forms of social hierarchy play out in meetings.

Paper long abstract:

This paper explores first, the role of materiality via documents such as contracts in formal and informal meetings and second, how different norms and forms of social hierarchy play out in meetings. Two case studies form the ethnography through which these elements are investigated. The first is the formation and implementation of a complex contract between a public sector institution and private sector company in Britain where the contract by turn takes second place to the ongoing negotiation of informal relationships - and also stands for an ideal relation. The second follows a series of encounters between an international lending agency, a Turkish ministry and international consultants as incommensurate practices, rationalities, values and hierarchies are brought to bear on an apparently singular topic.