Institutional Constructivism in Social Sciences and Law
Frames of Mind, Patterns of Change

The book develops the model of institutional constructivism to aid socio-legal research and to account for patterns of socio-legal change.

Dora Kostakopoulou (Author)

9781108470544, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 October 2018

224 pages, 8 b/w illus. 1 table
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.46 kg

'This book proposes an institutional constructivist model for social scientific and legal inquiries, based on the interrelations within the social and political world and the application of change in EU laws and politics.' Law & Social Inquiry

This book proposes a new institutional constructivist model, for social scientific and legal enquiries, based on the interrelations within the social and political world and the application of change in EU laws and politics. Much of the research conducted in social sciences and law examines the diverse activities of individuals and collectivities and the role of institutions in the social and political world. Although there exist many vantage points from which one can gain entry into understanding how agents in the world act, interact, shape and bear the world, socio-legal scientific epistemology has found monism and dualism to be convincing models. This book argues that current models do not capture the complexity of our micro-worlds, macro-worlds and meso-worlds. Nor can they account for the forms and patterns of socio-legal change. Mind, time and change are brought together in an attempt to contribute to socio-legal epistemology and to enhance its toolkit.

Introduction: on schemata: constructing theories and explanations
Part I. Theory Perspectives and Connexio Rerum: 1. On the methodology of social sciences: the case for connexio rerum
2. Constructivisms and institutional constructivism
3. Theorising institutional change: a dynamic theory of process
4. Ideas, norms and European citizenship
Part II. Applied Aspects of Institutional Constructivism: 5. Co-creating European Union citizenship: institutional process and crescive norms
6. From law, policies and norms to European integration: supranationalism contested
Conclusion: time and understanding in socio-legal research.

Subject Areas: EU & European institutions [JPSN2], Political science & theory [JPA], Politics & government [JP], Social & political philosophy [HPS]