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Agency in New Institutionalism

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Subversion in Institutional Change and Stability

Abstract

This chapter deals with agency in new institutionalism, often argued to be sparsely theorized. A critical assessment is made of the micro-level theorizing of the dominant versions of new institutionalism. After that we present and assess the argument of Vivienne Lowndes and Mark Roberts (2013: Why institutions matter: The new institutionalism in political science. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan) that new institutionalism is entering a third phase of consolidation. Partly based on this argument, a theoretical positioning is made on how to perceive agency in a more political sense with a focus on various micro-mechanisms of action. Thus, it is an argument of consolidation and of upgrading political discourse and action in contrast to the dominance of new institutionalism theorizing inspired by economics and sociology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

    Jan Olsson

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  1. Jan Olsson
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Olsson, J. (2016). Agency in New Institutionalism. In: Subversion in Institutional Change and Stability . Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94922-9_2

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