On the 2nd of September I had the pleasure to be the external examiner of Natalie Brandenburg’s thesis at the Brussels School of International Affairs, University of Kent, supervised by Dr. Tom Casier. In the study Brandenburg shows how mediation is underpinned by a particular political rationality, and how the mediation assemblage is hierarchical structured. She drew on two cases, mediation in Myanmar and Georgia. The thesis is a thought provoking contribution to EU studies, peace and conflict studies, and a powerful example how practice theory can illuminate world political phenomena.