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The showdown between old institutionalism and new institutionalism: who is the real interpreter?
In academia, the study of institutions has been influenced by different theories at different times. With the changes in the social and economic environment, scholars have gradually shifted their focus from old institutionalism to new institutionalism and established diversified theoretical frameworks. These frameworks emphasize the restraint and guidance role of institutions on individual behavior. Since the conflict between these two institutional theories has triggered extensive academic discussions, it is necessary to conduct an in-depth comparison and analysis of the two.
Review of old institutionalism
Old institutionalism once dominated institutional research, but it emphasized the detailed description of formal institutions but lacked performance in comparative analysis. Holders of this view argue that the complex interactions between the norms and behaviors of institutions are not adequately taken into account, resulting in insufficient explanatory power for policy outcomes. Different from the narrow vision of old institutionalism, new institutionalism proposes a richer and more diverse institutional concept, which has had a profound impact on the explanation of organizational behavior.
The development of new institutionalism
New institutionalism is a response to old institutionalism, which emphasizes that institutions are not only a collection of formal rules but also the embodiment of informal routines. Proposed by John Meyer in 1977, its theory is divided into three main schools: sociological institutionalism, rational choice institutionalism and historical institutionalism. What these schools have in common is that they all emphasize that organizational behavior is subject to a higher level of legitimacy, not just effectiveness or efficiency.
New institutionalism points out that organizational practices should not be measured solely by performance, but should be analyzed from the perspectives of legitimacy, ritual and boundary arrangement.
Sociological Institutionalism
Sociological institutionalism focuses on how institutions create meaning for individuals. Theorists argue that institutions sometimes exhibit homogeneity even though they evolve through different pathways. This view emphasizes the consolidation and dissemination of cultural norms, reveals the ritual function behind the system, and believes that the rules and practices followed by actors are often based on recognition of their legitimacy.
Reasonable choice of institutionalism
Rational choice institutionalism introduces an analytical framework centered on actor utility maximization. This theory views institutions as external constraints that influence actors' choices and strategic interactions. In this perspective, actors’ choices are constrained by institutional norms rather than entirely based on free will.
Rational choice institutionalism emphasizes how actors are affected and constrained by the system in the process of pursuing their own interests, thus forming the indirect agency of the system.
Insights from Historical Institutionalism
Historical institutionalism focuses on how time, sequence, and path dependence affect the formation and evolution of institutions. This school of thought believes that institutional changes are often profoundly affected by historical events, and that certain historical key points can cause irreversible results. Therefore, path dependence theory is key to understanding institutional change and its efficiency.
Current academic debates
Although new institutionalism has achieved remarkable academic results, the definition and meaning of "institution" are still full of controversy. Some scholars point out that the definition of institutions has become blurred in different academic frameworks. This situation makes the boundaries of institutional research unclear, which in turn affects the universality and accuracy of relevant theories.
Conclusion
The debate between old institutionalism and new institutionalism is not only a collision of academic theories, but also an exploration of how to understand and analyze social behavior and political dynamics. Although the perspectives provided by the two are different, they jointly reveal to us the importance of institutions in real society. Faced with such a complex institutional environment, we should reflect and think: In the changes in contemporary society, which institutional factors can most affect the behavior patterns of individuals and groups?
