Institutional Theory in Political Science, Fourth Edition

B. Guy Peters, Maurice Falk Professor of Government, University of Pittsburgh, US

• Contents: Preface to 4th edition 1. Institutionalism Old and New Part I Varieties of Institutionalism 2. The Roots of the New Institutionalism: “Normative Institutionalism” 3. Rational Choice Theory and Institutional Theory 4. The Legacy of the Past: Historical Institutionalism 5. Empirical Institutionalism 6. Ideas as the Foundation of Institutions: Discursive and Constructivist Institutionalism 7. Sociological Institutionalism Part II Applications of Institutionalism 8. Institutions of Interest Representation 9. International Institutionalism Part III Issues in Institutionalism 9. Informal Institutions and Governing 10. Institutionalization and Deinstitutionalization Part IV Wrapping Up 11. Conclusion: One Institutionalism or Many References Index

'The book offers by far the most systematic and elaborate account of the importance of institutional theory in political science. It gives both researchers and practitioners a lot of ideas about how to analyze and conduct political-administrative decision-making processes, seen through institutional lenses.'--Tom Christensen, University of Oslo, Norway and Renmin University of China