New Labour, Old Epistemology? Reflections on Political Science, New Institutionalism and The Blair Government

Transcending the Institutionalist- Interpretivist Binary: Realizing Critical Realist Theory of Governance as Metagovernance

“…Their interpretivist accounts are prone to 'epistemological slippage' (Davies, 2011, p.76) and risking of being reductionist (Peters, 2011b). What should be particularly emphasized here is the problem with binary worldview of Bevir and Rhodes (see Bevir & Rhodes, 2003a;Bevir, 2005) as they see ones who are not an interpretivist as a positivist or modern empiricist, reflecting their narrow version of interpretivism (McAnulla, 2007;Marsh, 2008Marsh, , 2011Smith, 2008). This implies an 'either-or' worldview Following these, this article concurs that there is no simple an 'either-or' worldview between positivist institutionalism and interpretivism; many alternatives can be raised in relation to the study of governance.…”

“…Some of them constructively inquire about whether the interpretative turn abandons the value of the earlier insights from institutionalist traditions and influence of deep, not directly observable, structural influences on policy and action and whether the emphasis on meaning offers an deficient understanding of power relations (McAnulla, 2007;Marsh, 2008;Smith, 2008;Glynos & Howarth, 2008;Peters, 2011b;Baker & Stoker, 2013). It fails to consider the persistence of hierarchy and structurally derived constraints on action in government (Baker & Stoker, 2013).…”

“…Both aforementioned institutionalists and interpretivists, according to McAnulla (2007), share one common feature; they fail to recognize and/or lack an adequate study of social structures on which critical realists are actively focused. In particular, critical realists would argue that institutions are structures, norms, and practices shaping and be shaped by the ideas within the institutions about policy and organizations.…”

‘No cultural policy to speak of’ – Liverpool 2008

“…However institutions, as well as the related approach of institutionalism, are both terms that have generated considerable debate, much of which has surrounded the meaning of the term institution (Deeg, 2001;Lowndes, 2005) as well as the variety of methodological and theoretical approaches associated with institutionalism (McAnulla, 2007;Thelen, 1999).…”

“…The problem of whether to see an institution as a creation or a constraint can be seen in caveats from Bevir (2005) and McAnulla (2007). There is still a core problem that institutions may be reified turned into objects that decide policy via a determining role on actors' ideas and actions.…”