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Understanding Insitutionalism for Comparative Political Studies
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Making sense of InstitutionsMaking sense of Institutions
How do we make sense out of them?How do we make sense out of them?
We need to understand how institutions play a role as part of political
systems
We need to understand how institutions play a role as part of political
systems
Also how they are affected as part of political systems.
Also how they are affected as part of political systems.
They call this approachThey call this approach
INSTITUTIONALISM
But first.But first.
What are institutions?What are institutions?
InstitutionsInstitutions
Are they institutions?Are they institutions?
Are they institutions?Are they institutions?
They are institutions.They are institutions.
They are institutions.They are institutions.
Institutions areInstitutions are
Formal and informal structures that can influence
social behavior
They can:They can:
Constrain / EmpowerPrevent / Enable
For InstitutionalismFor Institutionalism
Independent Variables – I(d)V
ValuesIdealsNorms
Institutions are:Institutions are:
Intervening Variables – I(t)V
Less visible rules, routines and practices, but important ones.
Dependent Variables – DV
CharacteristicsOutcomes
Institutionalism sounds easy, right.Institutionalism sounds easy, right.
NOT!
Like everything else, it’s a matter of perspective.
Like everything else, it’s a matter of perspective.
There are more ways than one at looking at things.
RATIONAL CHOICE INSTITUTIONALISMRATIONAL CHOICE INSTITUTIONALISM
Theoretical PerspectiveTheoretical Perspective
HUMAN ACTION – the cornerstone of any social scientific explanation
Human beings areUTILITY MAXIMIZERS
Actors areINDEPENDENT OF CONTEXT
What are Agents and Institutions?What are Agents and Institutions?
INSTITUTIONS
They are mazes and hurdles on the way to a prize.
They provide a formal set of rules that structure
relationships
AGENTS
They are actors who negotiate with the rules.
They adapt to the rules and use them strategically.
How do Institutions change?How do Institutions change?
COST - BENEFIT
Do we need to change the system?
Can we do it?
Can it be done?
SOCIOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONALISM
SOCIOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONALISM
Sociological PerspectiveSociological Perspective
CULTURE – the driving force of human behavior.
Looking at how institutions emerge from social interactions.
duties obligations
norms
CULTURE = INSTITUTIONS
What are Agents and Institutions?What are Agents and Institutions?
INSTITUTIONS
They are: internalsubconscious
pre-rational
They don’t constrain options
THEY MAKE THEM.
Agents and Structure can’t be separated.
Remember Marx?
The world is where you are.
How are changes explained?How are changes explained?
Is change appropriate?Is it legitimate?
Inconsistency with change=
BREAKDOWN
HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONALISM
HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONALISM
Theoretical PerspectiveTheoretical Perspective
PATH DEPENDENCE
Institutions reflect past models.
Role of Agents and Institutions:Role of Agents and Institutions:
INSTITUTIONS shape the strategies and goals actors
pursue.
They shape inputs and outputs.
When do changes occur?When do changes occur?
Times of crisis or critical junctures.
Institutions create new institutions.
Notice something peculiar?
Historical analysis and sociological analysis are in many
ways related.
Institutions are very important.
They dictate human choices and options.
Institutions areARENAS
THEY DEFINE THE RULES.
Common experience lowers the costs towards agreement.
When the context changes,
preferences also change.
Meanwhile,
Rational choice analysis differs much from the two.
Institutions are still arenas.
but, actors are a little more independent from context.
Three views, different looks.
Which one is right?
OR, what’s wrong with each?
criticisms
Rational Choice
Same event, different interpretations
NO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.
Sociological / Historical
Rich detailsCausal variablesGeneralizations
Whew!
That’s already a lot of information
Why are we doing this again?
We do comparative analysis(or any study of social science)
BECAUSE…
We need to:
Gain knowledge through empirical research
Search for patterns
To deal with uncertainty and make descriptive, explanatory,
causal inferences.
To establish workable models.
That’s about it.
THANK YOU!