The widely understood institutionalism is an interdisciplinary research area, of which institutions are the central issue. Approaches used in this area are divided into "old" and "new", also the division into classic and contemporary approaches is used. In practice, there are at least several research trends in various disciplines of social sciences, which is referred to as "new institutionalism." They differ in paradigmatic basis, main research problems or applied methods. The common ground is the belief in the key role of institutions in shaping social, economic and political life. In total, these trends constitute a renaissance of interest in this subject. The new institutionalism, as a fully-fledged (institutionalized) perspective, created a new paradigm (especially in the field of economics), which was formed for good in the 1980s.
Institutional theory defines "institutions" as social phenomena which, due to the interaction of civic or public involvement, entrepreneurship, social norms and traditions, become common foundations of social life. These systems arise from subjective human interaction but at the same time, they are perceived by the participants as objective and stable. In addition, institutions are the basic elements of social contexts in which formal organizations are embedded.
Institutionalism means a general approach to the study of political institutions, a set of theoretical ideas and hypotheses regarding the relationship between institutional traits and the political agenda, achievements and changes. Institutionalism emphasizes the endogenous character and social construction of political institutions.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- 1. Institutionalism in a historical context
- 2. New institutionalism
- 3. The role of institutions in political life
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the concept of institutionalism, a broad interdisciplinary research area focused on the role of institutions in shaping social, economic, and political life. It traces the development of institutionalism from its historical roots to contemporary approaches, analyzing the evolution of theoretical frameworks and research methods.
- The historical development of institutionalism
- The distinction between “old” and “new” institutionalism
- The impact of institutions on political behavior and change
- The relationship between institutions and social contexts
- The influence of institutions on strategic decision-making
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of institutionalism and its various approaches, emphasizing the importance of institutions in shaping social, economic, and political life.
- 1. Institutionalism in a historical context: This chapter examines the historical development of institutionalism, highlighting the emphasis on the role of institutional and social contexts in political phenomena. It explores the impact of historical processes on current political changes, emphasizing the limitedness of predictive science in politics.
- 2. New institutionalism: This chapter delves into the emergence of “new” institutionalism as a fully-fledged perspective, particularly in economics. It discusses the key defining features of this approach, including its focus on institutions as social phenomena shaped by human interaction, and their role in shaping the behavior of political actors.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this text include institutionalism, old institutionalism, new institutionalism, historical institutionalism, institutions, political behavior, social context, strategic decision-making, formal organizations, political agenda, and political change.
- Quote paper
- Anika Grudziak (Author), 2023, Institutionalism. How is power understood differently in new institutionalist approaches?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1400305
