Key research themes
1. How are institutions defined and conceptualized as systems of social rules and coordination?
This research theme focuses on theoretical clarifications and definitions of institutions, emphasizing their nature as systems of social rules that structure interactions and enable coordination. It explores the ontological status of institutions, the distinction between institutions and organizations, and debates between rule-based and equilibrium-based understandings of institutions. Clarifying institutional definitions is critical for consistent theorizing and empirical investigation across social science disciplines.
2. How do different institutionalist approaches explain political and social outcomes through formal and informal rules?
This theme investigates the distinct theoretical schools within institutionalism—sociological, historical, and political institutionalism—and their explanations for political and social phenomena. It examines how formal and informal rules and norms influence behavior, policy development, and institutional change, including institutional persistence and transformation. Understanding differences in institutionalist arguments clarifies the causal power of institutions at various analytical levels and their role in shaping political structures and processes.
3. What is the role of power and legitimacy in institutional theory and institutional functioning?
This theme addresses how power dynamics and legitimacy are conceptualized and integrated within institutional analysis. It covers critiques of institutional theory for insufficiently theorizing nuanced forms of power, including domination and consent, and offers expanded conceptualizations of legitimacy beyond the traditional focus on the right to rule. Recognizing legitimacy as a generalized right to function across institutions, and critiques of institutional theory’s treatment of power, enrich understanding of institutional influence, authority, and accountability.