So, this chapter is not about the role of ideas in governance; it is about interpretive theory. Interpretive theorists believe that meanings are constitutive of actions. They imply that we cannotproperly discuss actions and practices apart from the intentionality of actors. People act on beliefs, thus, social scientists can explain actions only by appealing to the beliefs of the actors. Any other supposed cause can influence the way people act only indirectly through their beliefs and wants. Consequently, to grasp the reasons for which someone acted is not just to understand their action but also to give the only proper explanation of their action. Interpretive social scientists do not assume that reasons for action are always conscious and rational. Sometimes they talk of meanings, discourses, and languages, rather than beliefs and reasons, precisely to suggest that people are not always aware of the reasons for their action let alone in control of these reasons. Nonetheless, almost all interpretive social scientists believe that governance arises out of actions laden with meanings.