Institutional Theory in Political Science: 2nd Edition

At the turn of the millennium there has been a major growth of interest in institutional theory and institutional analysis in political science. This book identifies these approaches to institutions, and provides a frame of reference for the different theories. In the past decade there has been a major growth of interest in institutional theory and institutional analysis in political science. There are, however, a variety of different approaches to the new institutionalism' and these approaches rarely address the same issues. This book identifies the various approaches to institutions, and then provides a common frame of reference for the different theories. Peters argues that there are at least seven versions of institutionalism, beginning with the March and Olsen 'normative institutionalism', and including rational choice, historical and empirical approaches to institutions and their impact on public policy. For each of the versions of institutionalism them is a set of identical questions, including the definition of institutions, the way in which they are formed, how they change, how individuals and institutions interact, and the nature of a 'good institution'. Peters discusses whether them are really so many different approaches to institutionalism, or if there is sufficient agreement among them to argue that there is really one institutional theory.

About the Author :
B. Guy Peters is Maurice Falk Professor of Government at the University of Pittsburgh, USA and Professor of Comparative Governance at Zeppelin University in Germany.

Review :
"This highly readable book does a wonderful job of assessing the many different varieties and strands of institutional theory.  Peters is to be commended for his full and even-handed treatment of institutional approaches that have themselves become institutionalized in political science today.   In going from the origins of the ‘new institutionalisms' in the older institutionalism to the explanation of how ‘institutions' are defined, formed, operate, change, and are used in the many different sub-fields of political science, the book also provides a history and survey of political science in all its variety and complexity.  This is a must-read for any student of political science interested in understanding what the ‘new institutionalism' is all about." - Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Europe, Boston University, USA.