Download full text
(external source)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055420000751
Exports for your reference manager
Explanations of Institutional Change: Reflecting on a "Missing Diagonal"
[journal article]
Abstract Previous research on institutional change has concentrated on two types of explanations. On one hand, the dualism of path dependency and critical junctures has advanced our understanding of how institutional change occurs due to sudden exogenous shocks. On the other hand, more recent critiques have ... view more
Previous research on institutional change has concentrated on two types of explanations. On one hand, the dualism of path dependency and critical junctures has advanced our understanding of how institutional change occurs due to sudden exogenous shocks. On the other hand, more recent critiques have established a better understanding of endogenous, gradual change. This article is motivated by observations that current research tends to overlook what I call the "missing diagonal." I argue that we need to disentangle the sources of a cause (exogenous vs. endogenous) from its time horizon (sudden vs. gradual). By cross-tabulating these two dimensions, the proposed typology of institutional change explanations is able to capture complex multilayered as well as sequential arguments of institutional change. The typology urges scholars to be more precise with their social science language of erosion and decay, while serving as a generator for an innovative research agenda on endogenous ruptures.... view less
Keywords
institutional change; path dependence; cause; typology
Classification
Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Political Science
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
Page/Pages
p. 218-233
Journal
American Political Science Review, 115 (2021) 1
ISSN
1537-5943
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed