Institutional Dynamics: The Power of Structure

If political culture creates the sociocultural context of policymaking, then institutions provide the essential structure, the rules of the game, within which policymaking occurs. Institutional theory, developed in the fields of political science, history, sociology, and organizational studies, focuses not on actors as change agents but rather on the effects of institutions in shaping or mediating policy change. Consisting of numerous (and sometimes significantly) different approaches, this approach is generally known as the new institutionalism. 1 Although it encompasses a variety of perspectives, from rational choice to historical institutionalism, the core idea of the approach is the recognition that institutions of the state shape policy change. 2 Institutions play an integral role in defining individual, group, and societal identities and are, it is argued, much more than simple mirrors of social forces. 3 This perspective contrasts sharply with the behavioral point of view, whereby institutions are “portrayed simply as arenas within which political behavior, driven by more fundamental factors, occurs.” 4 Institutional theory suggests that various institutional constraints play a key role in shaping policy choices and outcomes. 5 These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.