L2 (Miller) Neoinstitutionalism

Neoinstitutionalism

• Traditionalist (macro) + Behavioralist (micro)

• Political: anything and everything wherein people interact with each other

Everywhere, various levels

Neoinstitutionalism: Assumes political phenomenon to exist ______ and at ___________ in society

Neoinstitutionalism in Theoretical

Intermediary institutions (informal institutions) hold power

Neoinstitutionalism in Practical

Power exist outside of government and formal institutions

Old Institutionalism

• 1900s

• PolSci: theoretical, normative, conceptual assumptions over power

• Focus on formal institutions (ELJ)

  • Law and Legal Institutions

• Power dynamics = limited to the state

Behavioral Revolution

• 1950s

• SocSci: demanded to be more empirical and scientific

• If power to be studied empirically, it should be observed where it was

• Focus: Institutions → Everywhere

• PolSci: Science>Art

New Institutionalism

• Bring back institutions to PolSci

  • Problem: Institutions = static, lacking, confined to government

  • Solution: Redefine institutions

March & Olsen (2006)

Institutions: empower and constrain actors differently

• Focus: Rational choice & Behaviorism

• Anything that constrains your behavior = INSTITUTION

  • eg. Church affecting how you conduct = constrains behavior

Acemoglu & Robinson (2012)

Institutions: units of power able to dictate outputs and outcomes

Sociological Definition

Institutions = Recurring patterns of behavior

• Anything you interact that has power over you = INSTITUTIONS

  • eg. Signs and Symbols

Three Streams of Institutionalism

1. Rational Choice Institutionalism

2. Sociological Institutionalism

3. Historical Institutionalism

Rational Choice Institutionalism

• Institutions = Arenas

• Focus: Actors

  • They anticipate and outwit other actors in relation to the rules and structure set by the institution

    • eg. Chis Escudero on VP impeachment (defer/delay)

Sociological Institutionalism

• Institutional cultures

• Rules, norms, structures = Culturally created

• Everything that is happening is based in our culture

Historical Institutionalism

• Institutions = Continuities

• Looking into the changes of institutions over time

  • eg. Colonialism in the PH started all our political problems

Miller

If we want to better understand political phenomena/institutionalism, we must look beyond the state.