The New Institutionalism: Organizational Factors in Political Life

Abstract

Contemporary theories of politics tend to portray politics as a reflection of society, political phenomena as the aggregate consequences of individual behavior, action as the result of choices based on calculated self-interest, history as efficient in reaching unique and appropriate outcomes, and decision making and the allocation of resources as the central foci of political life. Some recent theoretical thought in political science, however, blends elements of these theoretical styles into an older concern with institutions. This new institutionalism emphasizes the relative autonomy of political institutions, possibilities for inefficiency in history, and the importance of symbolic action to an understanding of politics. Such ideas have a reasonable empirical basis, but they are not characterized by powerful theoretical forms. Some directions for theoretical research may, however, be identified in institutionalist conceptions of political order.

Zwischenstadtland Schweiz. Zur politischen Steuerung der suburbanen Entwicklung in Schweizer Gemeinden

“…Zeitgleich hatten aber auch funktionalistische oder strukturalistische Annahmen Hochkonjunktur (Almond und Powell 1966). Dieser Welle an wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten folgten in soziologischen und politikwissenschaftlichen Studien vermehrt theoretische Ideen, welche der Strukturationstheorie von Giddens (1984) folgten und die Rolle der politischen Institutionen und Strukturen verschiedenster Art sowie die Rolle des individuellen Handelns als kombinierbare Erklärungsdimensionen thematisierten (March und Olsen 1984;Coleman 1990;Hall und Taylor 1996;Schmidt 2008). Politische Institutionen sind in dieser Sichtweise weder ausschließlich der Spiegel einer Gesellschaft (Kritik an den strukturalistischen Theorien) noch nur das Resultat rein individuell motivierten Handelns (Kritik am Rational-Choice-Ansatz).…”

A Política Pública De Expansão Para a Educação Superior Entre 1995 E 2010: Uma Abordagem Neoinstitucionalista Histórica

“…Mais que isso, as instituições são atores políticos ou decision makers. Pode-se dizer que o Estado ou outras instituições políticas fazem escolhas baseadas em alguns interesses da coletividade ou intenções, alternativas e expectativas (March;Olsen, 1984). Da mesma maneira que devem ser levados em conta os aspectos conjunturais, pois os períodos de crise podem precipitar a formulação de estratégias oficiais e de políticas propostas pelas elites e pelos administradores, as potencialidades estruturais para as ações autônomas estatais modificam-se ao longo do tempo, já que suas organizações de coerção e administração sofrem mudanças, tanto internamente como em suas relações com os grupos sociais e partes representativas do governo (Skocpol, 1985).…”

Dividing Competences: Germany's Vision(s) for Europe's Federal Future

“…According to the logic of appropriateness, preference formation is guided by notions of identity and roles shaped by the institutional context in which actors operate (March and Olsen, 1984;Checkel, 2001). According to this logic, preferences are shaped by rules, practices and norms that are socially constructed, publicly known and anticipated.…”