Making Sense of Institutions

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!