Disciplines and Ideas in Social Science - Institutionalism.pptx

concept of institutionalism and institutions

1. INSTITUTIONALISM

2. Institutionalism- in the social sciences, an approach that emphasizes the role of  institutions . The institutional approach can be understood as a subject matter, as a method, and as a theory. 

3. Institutionalism as a subject matter , the study of political institutions is central to the identity of the discipline of political science.  Institutionalism as method , the traditional or classic institutional approach is “descriptive, inductive, formal-legal, and historical-comparative”. Institutionalism as a theory , the traditional or classic institutional approach does not only make statements about the causes and consequences of political institutions.

4. WHAT ARE INSTITUTIONS?

5. WHAT ARE INSTITUTIONS? They are brought to life by people and organisations ( North, 1990 ; Leftwich & Sen, 2010 ). They provide a relatively predictable structure for everyday social, economic and political life. Institutions shape people’s incentives (or calculations of returns from their actions) and behaviour . They establish a predictable, though not necessarily efficient or uncontested structure for human interaction ( North, 1990: 6 ). Some argue institutions shape but do not necessarily always determine behaviour ( Leftwich & Sen, 2010: 9 ).

6. WHAT ARE INSTITUTIONS? They lead to enduring patterns of behaviour over time but they also change . Institutions are constantly being reformed through people’s actions ( Giddens, 1984 ). Institutional changes s tructures the way societies evolve ( North, 1990: 3 ). However, institutionalised behaviours can be hard to change.

7. WHAT ARE INSTITUTIONS? They produce positive or negative development outcomes . This depends on the kinds of relations and behaviours that institutions enable, and the outcomes for the enjoyment of rights and allocation of resources in society ( Leftwich & Sen, 2010 ).

8.   According to Samuel P. Huntington, institutions are "stable, valued, recurring patterns of behavior". institutions can also refer to  mechanisms  of  social order , which govern the  behavior  of a set of i ndividuals  within a given community. Moreover, institutions are identified with a  social purpose , transcending individuals and intentions by mediating the rules that govern living behavior. INSTITUTIONS

9. Formal Institutions are institutions that are officially established in one way or another. The government itself is an example and other government agencies, the national and local government laws, rules, and regulations. Other examples of formal institutions are business corporations, labor unions, and religious organizations.

10. Informal Institutions are not officially established, but are commonly accepted throughout society like practices, standards or label of behavior. They are tied with the social norms, beliefs and practices of certain groups of people or society.

11. Informal Institutions These apply to all types of activity such as social, cultural, political, and economic. Some examples are pamamanhikan for courtship and in arranged marriage .

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