Mark Bevir and R. A. W. Rhodes
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199580750
- eISBN:
- 9780191723179
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199580750.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Theory
This chapter examines the leading present-day expression of modernist-empiricism: the new institutionalism. First, it challenges the belief of new institutionalists that they have a shared new ...
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This chapter examines the leading present-day expression of modernist-empiricism: the new institutionalism. First, it challenges the belief of new institutionalists that they have a shared new paradigm. Instead, we suggest it is varied, containing strands that can scarcely be reconciled with one another. Second, it argues that historical institutionalism exists primarily as a counter to rational choice institutionalism but its inductive, modernist-empiricist logic lacks a micro-level theory for explaining historical change and awareness grows that it is not a distinctive approach. Third, it argues that ideational or constructivist institutionalism offers a promising way forward provided it develops a micro-theory that appeals to the beliefs and desires of actors and it breaks with the ahistorical forms of explanation of modernist-empiricism.Less
This chapter examines the leading present-day expression of modernist-empiricism: the new institutionalism. First, it challenges the belief of new institutionalists that they have a shared new paradigm. Instead, we suggest it is varied, containing strands that can scarcely be reconciled with one another. Second, it argues that historical institutionalism exists primarily as a counter to rational choice institutionalism but its inductive, modernist-empiricist logic lacks a micro-level theory for explaining historical change and awareness grows that it is not a distinctive approach. Third, it argues that ideational or constructivist institutionalism offers a promising way forward provided it develops a micro-theory that appeals to the beliefs and desires of actors and it breaks with the ahistorical forms of explanation of modernist-empiricism.
Vivien A. Schmidt
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199736430
- eISBN:
- 9780199866106
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199736430.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
During the past three decades, “new institutionalism” has become the main methodological battleground among political scientists. This is because political scientists differ in their preferred “new ...
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During the past three decades, “new institutionalism” has become the main methodological battleground among political scientists. This is because political scientists differ in their preferred “new institutionalist” approach to political science. There are four basic institutionalist approaches: three older new institutionalisms—rational choice, historical, and sociological institutionalism—plus a fourth newer new institutionalism, called discursive institutionalism. This chapter explores the relationship between ideational and discourse analysis, on one hand, and various forms of new institutionalism, on the other hand. It makes the case for a discursive institutionalism, concerned with ideas and discourse, because it has the greatest potential for reconciling existing institutionalist approaches.Less
During the past three decades, “new institutionalism” has become the main methodological battleground among political scientists. This is because political scientists differ in their preferred “new institutionalist” approach to political science. There are four basic institutionalist approaches: three older new institutionalisms—rational choice, historical, and sociological institutionalism—plus a fourth newer new institutionalism, called discursive institutionalism. This chapter explores the relationship between ideational and discourse analysis, on one hand, and various forms of new institutionalism, on the other hand. It makes the case for a discursive institutionalism, concerned with ideas and discourse, because it has the greatest potential for reconciling existing institutionalist approaches.
Michael Koß
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199572755
- eISBN:
- 9780191595103
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199572755.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Economy
This chapter discusses existing hypotheses about the reasons for the introduction of state funding to political parties and links them to one of the main new institutionalist approaches. From a ...
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This chapter discusses existing hypotheses about the reasons for the introduction of state funding to political parties and links them to one of the main new institutionalist approaches. From a rational choice perspective, state funding to political parties is a response to rising costs of political competition. However, these costs have risen in all democracies, no matter whether state funding has been introduced. From a historical institutionalist perspective, the introduction of state funding is, for instance, linked to étatiste traditions. This explanation fails to explain why, in some countries, no state funding exists despite influential étatiste traditions, or why state funding was only introduced when these traditions were actually eroding. Normative institutionalist approaches link the introduction of state funding with a specific logic of appropriateness which, for instance, prompted a perception of parties as ‘public utilities’. In order to avoid such barely falsifiable arguments, the next chapter refers to actor-based institutionalism.Less
This chapter discusses existing hypotheses about the reasons for the introduction of state funding to political parties and links them to one of the main new institutionalist approaches. From a rational choice perspective, state funding to political parties is a response to rising costs of political competition. However, these costs have risen in all democracies, no matter whether state funding has been introduced. From a historical institutionalist perspective, the introduction of state funding is, for instance, linked to étatiste traditions. This explanation fails to explain why, in some countries, no state funding exists despite influential étatiste traditions, or why state funding was only introduced when these traditions were actually eroding. Normative institutionalist approaches link the introduction of state funding with a specific logic of appropriateness which, for instance, prompted a perception of parties as ‘public utilities’. In order to avoid such barely falsifiable arguments, the next chapter refers to actor-based institutionalism.
Jeffrey Stacey
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199584765
- eISBN:
- 9780191723506
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199584765.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, European Union
Whereas Chapter 1 reviews general theories of European integration, Chapter 2 contains a review of theories of institutional change with a particular emphasis on a troika of institutionalist ...
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Whereas Chapter 1 reviews general theories of European integration, Chapter 2 contains a review of theories of institutional change with a particular emphasis on a troika of institutionalist theories: Rational Choice Institutionalism (RCI), Historical Institutionalism (HI), and Sociological Institutionalism (SI). RCI is this book's theory of choice, essentially amounting to an assumption that institutions are fairly easy to change and an explanation that actors compete to change them when status quo institutions prevent them from achieving their preferences. The book's RCI‐based argument claims that power‐changing informal accords get created in the EU when constraints on the EU's primary political actors change, the actors being the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. It predicts that the Parliament as the weakest actor succeeds in bargaining for advantageous informal accords with its stronger counterparts when one or more of a serious of specific conditions temporarily empower it.Less
Whereas Chapter 1 reviews general theories of European integration, Chapter 2 contains a review of theories of institutional change with a particular emphasis on a troika of institutionalist theories: Rational Choice Institutionalism (RCI), Historical Institutionalism (HI), and Sociological Institutionalism (SI). RCI is this book's theory of choice, essentially amounting to an assumption that institutions are fairly easy to change and an explanation that actors compete to change them when status quo institutions prevent them from achieving their preferences. The book's RCI‐based argument claims that power‐changing informal accords get created in the EU when constraints on the EU's primary political actors change, the actors being the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. It predicts that the Parliament as the weakest actor succeeds in bargaining for advantageous informal accords with its stronger counterparts when one or more of a serious of specific conditions temporarily empower it.
Jeffrey Stacey
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199584765
- eISBN:
- 9780191723506
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199584765.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, European Union
In Integrating Europe: Informal Politics and Institutional Change the author explains why the European Union (EU) Member States actively surrender policy‐making power to supranational authorities in ...
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In Integrating Europe: Informal Politics and Institutional Change the author explains why the European Union (EU) Member States actively surrender policy‐making power to supranational authorities in unconventional ways. In light of the general antipathy toward giving up national sovereignty in European societies—even where “pro‐European” sentiment thrives, why do national governments allow the creation of any new EU laws or policies whose effects they cannot keep under their general control? Why do EU Member States allow any sovereignty transfer to occur outside of intergovernmental treaties that are the only legitimate EU bargains found in the EU's formal sphere? Deploying the tools of rational choice institutionalist theory, the author argues that informal bargains struck between the EU's primary organizational actors—the European Council, European Commission, and European Parliament—have paradoxically resulted in increased integration. As the EU is an ideal laboratory for testing different institutionalist hypotheses for explaining institutional change, the author focuses on the ongoing competition to alter the EU rules that allocate power, and, with an approach that allows for feedback loops among agents and structures, makes an argument that flies in the face of realist and Intergovernmentalist theories. While some have shed light on the importance of informal dynamics in the legal sphere of the EU, this book does the same for the policy‐making sphere.Less
In Integrating Europe: Informal Politics and Institutional Change the author explains why the European Union (EU) Member States actively surrender policy‐making power to supranational authorities in unconventional ways. In light of the general antipathy toward giving up national sovereignty in European societies—even where “pro‐European” sentiment thrives, why do national governments allow the creation of any new EU laws or policies whose effects they cannot keep under their general control? Why do EU Member States allow any sovereignty transfer to occur outside of intergovernmental treaties that are the only legitimate EU bargains found in the EU's formal sphere? Deploying the tools of rational choice institutionalist theory, the author argues that informal bargains struck between the EU's primary organizational actors—the European Council, European Commission, and European Parliament—have paradoxically resulted in increased integration. As the EU is an ideal laboratory for testing different institutionalist hypotheses for explaining institutional change, the author focuses on the ongoing competition to alter the EU rules that allocate power, and, with an approach that allows for feedback loops among agents and structures, makes an argument that flies in the face of realist and Intergovernmentalist theories. While some have shed light on the importance of informal dynamics in the legal sphere of the EU, this book does the same for the policy‐making sphere.
Matthew Flinders
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199271603
- eISBN:
- 9780191709241
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199271603.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, UK Politics, Political Economy
This chapter sets out the theoretical framework used in this book. This consists of three complementary theoretical approaches — the Westminster Model, Historical Institutionalism, and ...
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This chapter sets out the theoretical framework used in this book. This consists of three complementary theoretical approaches — the Westminster Model, Historical Institutionalism, and Principal-Agent Theory — which each in their own distinct way allows each chapter to dissect and tease apart the politics of delegation in Britain. Moreover, these approaches also operate at distinct levels, which again deepen our understanding of both the theory and practice of delegation.Less
This chapter sets out the theoretical framework used in this book. This consists of three complementary theoretical approaches — the Westminster Model, Historical Institutionalism, and Principal-Agent Theory — which each in their own distinct way allows each chapter to dissect and tease apart the politics of delegation in Britain. Moreover, these approaches also operate at distinct levels, which again deepen our understanding of both the theory and practice of delegation.
Roy Suddaby, William M. Foster, and Albert J. Mills
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199646890
- eISBN:
- 9780191756320
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199646890.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Organization Studies
An unfortunate outcome of the shift from ‘old’ to ‘new’ institutionalism is that neo-institutional theory has become ahistorical. In their search for scientific legitimacy, contemporary ...
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An unfortunate outcome of the shift from ‘old’ to ‘new’ institutionalism is that neo-institutional theory has become ahistorical. In their search for scientific legitimacy, contemporary organizational institutional theory has become overly scientifistic in an effort to make universal knowledge claims that are independent of spatial and temporal context. This has left the field with a flat and mechanistic understanding of institutions that has, largely, obscured the role of history and historical processes in institutional theory. The chapter argues for the adoption of a more critical articulation of the role of history in institutions. It discusses how ‘historical institutionalism’ can help address fundamental challenges within neo-institutional theory.Less
An unfortunate outcome of the shift from ‘old’ to ‘new’ institutionalism is that neo-institutional theory has become ahistorical. In their search for scientific legitimacy, contemporary organizational institutional theory has become overly scientifistic in an effort to make universal knowledge claims that are independent of spatial and temporal context. This has left the field with a flat and mechanistic understanding of institutions that has, largely, obscured the role of history and historical processes in institutional theory. The chapter argues for the adoption of a more critical articulation of the role of history in institutions. It discusses how ‘historical institutionalism’ can help address fundamental challenges within neo-institutional theory.
Gary Herrigel
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199557738
- eISBN:
- 9780191720871
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199557738.003.0009
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Political Economy
The conclusion addresses three areas of theoretical interest posed by empirical and theoretical arguments made in the substantive chapters of Manufacturing Possibilities. First it elaborates more ...
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The conclusion addresses three areas of theoretical interest posed by empirical and theoretical arguments made in the substantive chapters of Manufacturing Possibilities. First it elaborates more precisely the ways that pragmatist notions of creative action and recomposition are superior to various forms of institutionalism (sociological, rational choice and historical institutionalism). Second it more explicitly elaborates the non-structural, relational and contextual understanding of power that undergirds the analysis of industrial change. Thirdly it points out that pragmatism involves a distinctive approach to social science : It encourages the search for interesting possibilities, rather than determinate forms of causality which tend to place undue attention on constraint. Pragmatist social science, ultimately, is science in the interest of greater democracyLess
The conclusion addresses three areas of theoretical interest posed by empirical and theoretical arguments made in the substantive chapters of Manufacturing Possibilities. First it elaborates more precisely the ways that pragmatist notions of creative action and recomposition are superior to various forms of institutionalism (sociological, rational choice and historical institutionalism). Second it more explicitly elaborates the non-structural, relational and contextual understanding of power that undergirds the analysis of industrial change. Thirdly it points out that pragmatism involves a distinctive approach to social science : It encourages the search for interesting possibilities, rather than determinate forms of causality which tend to place undue attention on constraint. Pragmatist social science, ultimately, is science in the interest of greater democracy
Mark Thatcher
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199245680
- eISBN:
- 9780191715273
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199245680.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
This chapter sets out the analytical framework used in the book. It offers a critique of two major relevant literatures that study internationalisation and domestic institutions, namely the second ...
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This chapter sets out the analytical framework used in the book. It offers a critique of two major relevant literatures that study internationalisation and domestic institutions, namely the second image reversed approach and comparative institutionalism (historical institutionalism and varieties of capitalism). It argues that while both offer valuable elements, they pay too much attention to economic forms of internationalisation and underestimate the potential for institutional reform. Instead, the chapter offers a policy analysis approach that pays attention to policymaking at both international and domestic levels. It defines and discusses three forms of market internationalisation that are used in the study: transnational technological and economic developments; and two policy forms: reforms in a significant overseas nation (in this case, the US) and supranational regulation (by the EU). It then discusses possible mechanisms whereby these different forms of internationalisation can influence domestic decisions about national institutions.Less
This chapter sets out the analytical framework used in the book. It offers a critique of two major relevant literatures that study internationalisation and domestic institutions, namely the second image reversed approach and comparative institutionalism (historical institutionalism and varieties of capitalism). It argues that while both offer valuable elements, they pay too much attention to economic forms of internationalisation and underestimate the potential for institutional reform. Instead, the chapter offers a policy analysis approach that pays attention to policymaking at both international and domestic levels. It defines and discusses three forms of market internationalisation that are used in the study: transnational technological and economic developments; and two policy forms: reforms in a significant overseas nation (in this case, the US) and supranational regulation (by the EU). It then discusses possible mechanisms whereby these different forms of internationalisation can influence domestic decisions about national institutions.
Georg Menz
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199533886
- eISBN:
- 9780191714771
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199533886.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
This chapter submits the historical institutionalist argument that though past legacies of migration regulation leave an important imprint on national approaches, a critical juncture has now been ...
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This chapter submits the historical institutionalist argument that though past legacies of migration regulation leave an important imprint on national approaches, a critical juncture has now been reached, thus, migration policies are in flux and are being recast. The changing nature of the state and the embrace of competition state priorities lead to an economistic approach that divides migrants into desirable and undesirable categories. Therefore, securitization is increasingly defined not only in narrow societal terms but also in terms of economic vitality and competitiveness. Finally, the regulatory legacies in six European countries, namely, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and at the European Union level are then being analyzed.Less
This chapter submits the historical institutionalist argument that though past legacies of migration regulation leave an important imprint on national approaches, a critical juncture has now been reached, thus, migration policies are in flux and are being recast. The changing nature of the state and the embrace of competition state priorities lead to an economistic approach that divides migrants into desirable and undesirable categories. Therefore, securitization is increasingly defined not only in narrow societal terms but also in terms of economic vitality and competitiveness. Finally, the regulatory legacies in six European countries, namely, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and at the European Union level are then being analyzed.
Jochen Clasen
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- February 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199270712
- eISBN:
- 9780191603266
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199270716.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
The chapter introduces the book conceptualisation of s framework for the causal analysis of welfare state reform. It introduces relevant actors and their interests in the two welfare states, ...
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The chapter introduces the book conceptualisation of s framework for the causal analysis of welfare state reform. It introduces relevant actors and their interests in the two welfare states, institutional structures, as well as changing socio-economic contexts within which actors have operated since the late 1970s. Three sets of different institutional contexts are discussed: formal policy making structures, programme-specific features of unemployment and pension and family policy, and institutional complementarities linking social protection programmes to national political economy structures. The chapter concludes with a historical account of socio-economic trends in the two countries, covering about 25 years.Less
The chapter introduces the book conceptualisation of s framework for the causal analysis of welfare state reform. It introduces relevant actors and their interests in the two welfare states, institutional structures, as well as changing socio-economic contexts within which actors have operated since the late 1970s. Three sets of different institutional contexts are discussed: formal policy making structures, programme-specific features of unemployment and pension and family policy, and institutional complementarities linking social protection programmes to national political economy structures. The chapter concludes with a historical account of socio-economic trends in the two countries, covering about 25 years.
Orfeo Fioretos
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198744023
- eISBN:
- 9780191804014
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198744023.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Historical institutionalism makes important contributions to the study of International Relations, including providing more complete and nuanced explanations of the factors that contribute to the ...
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Historical institutionalism makes important contributions to the study of International Relations, including providing more complete and nuanced explanations of the factors that contribute to the origins of and sources behind diverse patterns of stability and change in international institutions. As a tradition of political analysis exploring how temporal phenomena such as path dependence, critical junctures, and endogenous feedback effects impact the structure and political impact of institutions over time, historical institutionalism contributes to several disciplinary goals in IR, including empirical discovery and analytical refinement. As a relatively discrete tradition of analysis, or as a counterpoint to and in collaboration with other traditions, historical institutionalism facilitates greater understanding of developments in the densely layered institutional landscape that characterizes the modern international system.Less
Historical institutionalism makes important contributions to the study of International Relations, including providing more complete and nuanced explanations of the factors that contribute to the origins of and sources behind diverse patterns of stability and change in international institutions. As a tradition of political analysis exploring how temporal phenomena such as path dependence, critical junctures, and endogenous feedback effects impact the structure and political impact of institutions over time, historical institutionalism contributes to several disciplinary goals in IR, including empirical discovery and analytical refinement. As a relatively discrete tradition of analysis, or as a counterpoint to and in collaboration with other traditions, historical institutionalism facilitates greater understanding of developments in the densely layered institutional landscape that characterizes the modern international system.
Jörg Broschek
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199652990
- eISBN:
- 9780191747915
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199652990.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This chapter develops a conceptual framework for analyzing federal dynamics inspired by different strands of historical institutionalism. Putting particular emphasis on timing and sequencing, a ...
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This chapter develops a conceptual framework for analyzing federal dynamics inspired by different strands of historical institutionalism. Putting particular emphasis on timing and sequencing, a historical-institutionalist approach suggests a strong causal link between the origins of federal systems and the way they evolve dynamically over time through path dependence and gradual adaption. Dynamics result from the ongoing push and pull between status quo defending and status quo challenging actors who always operate within a historically constructed institutional setting. However, depending on how federal systems reproduce power-concentrating and power-sharing institutional mechanisms, their transformative capacity varies significantly. The path-dependent institutional “grammar”, therefore, has important consequences for the prospects of different types of gradual change within federal systems.Less
This chapter develops a conceptual framework for analyzing federal dynamics inspired by different strands of historical institutionalism. Putting particular emphasis on timing and sequencing, a historical-institutionalist approach suggests a strong causal link between the origins of federal systems and the way they evolve dynamically over time through path dependence and gradual adaption. Dynamics result from the ongoing push and pull between status quo defending and status quo challenging actors who always operate within a historically constructed institutional setting. However, depending on how federal systems reproduce power-concentrating and power-sharing institutional mechanisms, their transformative capacity varies significantly. The path-dependent institutional “grammar”, therefore, has important consequences for the prospects of different types of gradual change within federal systems.
Henry Farrell and Martha Finnemore
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198744023
- eISBN:
- 9780191804014
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198744023.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Historical institutionalism has not yet grappled with the deeper intellectual challenges of “going global.” Understanding international, particularly global, institutions, requires attention to and ...
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Historical institutionalism has not yet grappled with the deeper intellectual challenges of “going global.” Understanding international, particularly global, institutions, requires attention to and theorizing of a global social context, one that does not rely on a national government in the background, ready to enforce laws and rules. It also requires theories about the global organizations themselves. In this chapter, the authors argue that a historical institutionalism that engages with the many varieties of sociological institutionalism would be a richer tradition that could more systematically examine the role of norms and ideas, thereby expanding its analytic range to institutional contexts beyond the state.Less
Historical institutionalism has not yet grappled with the deeper intellectual challenges of “going global.” Understanding international, particularly global, institutions, requires attention to and theorizing of a global social context, one that does not rely on a national government in the background, ready to enforce laws and rules. It also requires theories about the global organizations themselves. In this chapter, the authors argue that a historical institutionalism that engages with the many varieties of sociological institutionalism would be a richer tradition that could more systematically examine the role of norms and ideas, thereby expanding its analytic range to institutional contexts beyond the state.
Alexandra Kelso
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- July 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780719076756
- eISBN:
- 9781781702482
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Manchester University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7228/manchester/9780719076756.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, UK Politics
To understand why parliamentary reform does or does not take place requires a prior understanding of the context in which it does or does not occur. The characteristics of the institution of ...
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To understand why parliamentary reform does or does not take place requires a prior understanding of the context in which it does or does not occur. The characteristics of the institution of parliament are a product of its historical development, and that development has fostered the emergence of particular norms and values that continue to shape its functioning and capabilities. Crucially, parliament cannot be understood in isolation from government and, consequently, parliamentary reform cannot be understood separately from its likely impact on government. Parliamentary reform can most usefully be analysed with reference to the norms and values that structure the institutional context in which parliament exists. It is necessary, therefore, to explore those norms and values, and the specific ways that they regulate and restrict parliamentary capabilities. This chapter discusses institutional theory and historical institutionalism with respect to parliamentary reform in Britain, along with ministerial responsibility, parliamentary sovereignty, strong party government, the power of the executive at Westminster, role of parliament and individual MPs within the political system, and approaches to parliamentary reform.Less
To understand why parliamentary reform does or does not take place requires a prior understanding of the context in which it does or does not occur. The characteristics of the institution of parliament are a product of its historical development, and that development has fostered the emergence of particular norms and values that continue to shape its functioning and capabilities. Crucially, parliament cannot be understood in isolation from government and, consequently, parliamentary reform cannot be understood separately from its likely impact on government. Parliamentary reform can most usefully be analysed with reference to the norms and values that structure the institutional context in which parliament exists. It is necessary, therefore, to explore those norms and values, and the specific ways that they regulate and restrict parliamentary capabilities. This chapter discusses institutional theory and historical institutionalism with respect to parliamentary reform in Britain, along with ministerial responsibility, parliamentary sovereignty, strong party government, the power of the executive at Westminster, role of parliament and individual MPs within the political system, and approaches to parliamentary reform.
Robert O. Keohane
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198744023
- eISBN:
- 9780191804014
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198744023.003.0015
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Historical institutionalism has made significant contributions to the study of international relations, especially in explaining “anomalies of institutional persistence”: situations in which ...
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Historical institutionalism has made significant contributions to the study of international relations, especially in explaining “anomalies of institutional persistence”: situations in which international institutions remain relatively stable despite major changes in inter-state relations. Path dependency, a concept borrowed from economic history, is the most important concept of historical institutionalism because it provides a clear causal mechanism to explain institutional persistence. To fully realize its promise for the study of international relations, historical institutionalism must devote greater attention to explaining patterns of institutional change, work in collaboration with choice-based and sociological varieties of institutional analysis, and more strongly embrace a falsificationist mindset to guide hypothesis-testing.Less
Historical institutionalism has made significant contributions to the study of international relations, especially in explaining “anomalies of institutional persistence”: situations in which international institutions remain relatively stable despite major changes in inter-state relations. Path dependency, a concept borrowed from economic history, is the most important concept of historical institutionalism because it provides a clear causal mechanism to explain institutional persistence. To fully realize its promise for the study of international relations, historical institutionalism must devote greater attention to explaining patterns of institutional change, work in collaboration with choice-based and sociological varieties of institutional analysis, and more strongly embrace a falsificationist mindset to guide hypothesis-testing.
Milada Anna Vachudova
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- April 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199241194
- eISBN:
- 9780191602382
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199241198.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
The quality of political competition at the moment of regime change determined whether East European states embarked on a liberal or an illiberal pattern of political change after 1989. It was ...
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The quality of political competition at the moment of regime change determined whether East European states embarked on a liberal or an illiberal pattern of political change after 1989. It was initially determined by the presence or absence of an opposition to communism strong enough to take power in 1989, and secondarily by the presence or absence of a reforming communist party. This chapter makes the theoretical case for why political competition is central to understanding variation in the domestic trajectories of post-communist states. It also presents a model of the causal mechanisms that translate different levels of political competition into liberal and illiberal political outcomes.Less
The quality of political competition at the moment of regime change determined whether East European states embarked on a liberal or an illiberal pattern of political change after 1989. It was initially determined by the presence or absence of an opposition to communism strong enough to take power in 1989, and secondarily by the presence or absence of a reforming communist party. This chapter makes the theoretical case for why political competition is central to understanding variation in the domestic trajectories of post-communist states. It also presents a model of the causal mechanisms that translate different levels of political competition into liberal and illiberal political outcomes.
Marius R. Busemeyer and Christine Trampusch (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199599431
- eISBN:
- 9780191731518
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199599431.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management
Education, skill formation, and training continue to be important areas of consideration for both public policy and research. This book examines the particular types of vocational training known as ...
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Education, skill formation, and training continue to be important areas of consideration for both public policy and research. This book examines the particular types of vocational training known as collective skill formation systems, whereby the training (often firm-based apprenticeships) is collectively organized by businesses and unions with state support and cooperation in execution, finance, and monitoring.With contributions from leading academics, this book is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the varying historical origins of, and recent developments in, vocational training systems, offering in-depth studies on coordinated market economies, namely Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It also contains comparative chapters that analyze how these countries react to common challenges such as deindustrialization, labor market stratification, academic drift, gender inequalities, and Europeanization.Whereas previous research has focused on the differences between various kinds of skill regimes, this book focuses on explaining institutional variety within the group of collective skill formation systems. The development of skill formation systems is regarded as a dynamic political process, dependent on the outcome of various political struggles regarding such matters as institutional design and transformations during critical junctures in historical development.Less
Education, skill formation, and training continue to be important areas of consideration for both public policy and research. This book examines the particular types of vocational training known as collective skill formation systems, whereby the training (often firm-based apprenticeships) is collectively organized by businesses and unions with state support and cooperation in execution, finance, and monitoring.With contributions from leading academics, this book is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the varying historical origins of, and recent developments in, vocational training systems, offering in-depth studies on coordinated market economies, namely Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It also contains comparative chapters that analyze how these countries react to common challenges such as deindustrialization, labor market stratification, academic drift, gender inequalities, and Europeanization.Whereas previous research has focused on the differences between various kinds of skill regimes, this book focuses on explaining institutional variety within the group of collective skill formation systems. The development of skill formation systems is regarded as a dynamic political process, dependent on the outcome of various political struggles regarding such matters as institutional design and transformations during critical junctures in historical development.
Thomas Rixen and Lora Anne Viola
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198779629
- eISBN:
- 9780191824678
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198779629.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
This chapter introduces historical institutionalism (HI) to international relations (IR). Historical institutionalism, located outside of IR’s paradigmatic debates, has been given little explicit ...
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This chapter introduces historical institutionalism (HI) to international relations (IR). Historical institutionalism, located outside of IR’s paradigmatic debates, has been given little explicit attention within IR. We argue, however, that scholarship on international institutions is increasingly concerned with issues that HI was developed to address and that this overlap of interests is a compelling reason for IR to explicitly engage with HI. We discuss what is distinctive about HI, especially in relation to rational and sociological institutionalisms. Then, as groundwork for empirical research, we develop a systematic conceptualization of the terms “institutional development,” “stability,” and “change” by distinguishing three dimensions of change: speed, scope, and depth. Finally, we provide an overview of the empirical chapters in this volume and reflect on what status HI should have within the existing field of IR theories.Less
This chapter introduces historical institutionalism (HI) to international relations (IR). Historical institutionalism, located outside of IR’s paradigmatic debates, has been given little explicit attention within IR. We argue, however, that scholarship on international institutions is increasingly concerned with issues that HI was developed to address and that this overlap of interests is a compelling reason for IR to explicitly engage with HI. We discuss what is distinctive about HI, especially in relation to rational and sociological institutionalisms. Then, as groundwork for empirical research, we develop a systematic conceptualization of the terms “institutional development,” “stability,” and “change” by distinguishing three dimensions of change: speed, scope, and depth. Finally, we provide an overview of the empirical chapters in this volume and reflect on what status HI should have within the existing field of IR theories.
Thomas C. Guiney
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- September 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198803683
- eISBN:
- 9780191842085
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198803683.003.0002
- Subject:
- Law, Criminal Law and Criminology
The chapter sets out a theoretical framework for the systematic and historically grounded analysis of early release in England and Wales between 1960 and 1995. It reviews the existing criminological ...
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The chapter sets out a theoretical framework for the systematic and historically grounded analysis of early release in England and Wales between 1960 and 1995. It reviews the existing criminological literature on the history of criminal justice and reflects upon the tendency to conceptualize policy change as the product of individual action or the socio-economic shifts associated with late twentieth-century modernity. It goes on to consider the mediating role of political institutions in shaping complex policy outcomes and presents a theoretical framework for the analysis of early release based upon the broad tradition of historical institutionalism. The chapter concludes with an honest appraisal of the challenges facing a criminologist doing historical study and reflects upon the largely untapped potential of archival research as a criminological and social science methodology.Less
The chapter sets out a theoretical framework for the systematic and historically grounded analysis of early release in England and Wales between 1960 and 1995. It reviews the existing criminological literature on the history of criminal justice and reflects upon the tendency to conceptualize policy change as the product of individual action or the socio-economic shifts associated with late twentieth-century modernity. It goes on to consider the mediating role of political institutions in shaping complex policy outcomes and presents a theoretical framework for the analysis of early release based upon the broad tradition of historical institutionalism. The chapter concludes with an honest appraisal of the challenges facing a criminologist doing historical study and reflects upon the largely untapped potential of archival research as a criminological and social science methodology.
