Institutional Theory
The Cultural Construction of Organizations, States, and Identities

Comprehensively collects the essential theoretical ideas of 'sociological neo-institutionalism', one of the leading approaches in social theory.

Ronald L. Jepperson (Author), John W. Meyer (Author)

9781107078376, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 April 2021

280 pages
23.5 x 16 x 3 cm, 0.63 kg

'While modern common sense takes actors for granted, social theory must also look inside and beyond the black box of actorhood. In this important book, Jepperson and Meyer show how modern individuals, organizations and states are constructed from cultural models. They delineate and carefully elaborate a compelling theoretical account that spans multiple levels of analysis and provides illuminating insights into contemporary world society and its cultural-institutional framework.' Boris Holzer, Professor of General Sociology and Macrosociology, University of Konstanz

Over the past three decades, Meyer, Jepperson, and colleagues have contributed to the development of one of the leading approaches in social theory, by analyzing the cultural frameworks that have shaped modern organizations, states, and identities. Bringing together key articles and new reflections, this volume collects the essential theoretical ideas of 'sociological neoinstitutionalism.' It clarifies the core ideas and situates them within social theory writ large. Among other topics, the authors discuss the changing nature of the “actors” that have operated within contemporary social structure. The book concludes with the evolving frameworks that have structured social activity in the post–World War II period of 'embedded liberalism,' in the more recent neoliberal period, and in an emergent post-liberal period that appears to be a radical departure.

Credits
Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction: cultural institutionalism
Part II. Institutional Theory: Its Role in Modern Social Analysis
2. Society without culture (1988)
3. Institutions, institutional effects, and institutionalism (1991)
4. The development and application of sociological neo-institutionalism (2002)
5. Reflections on Part II: institutional theory
Part III. The Institutional Level of Analysis: 6. Multiple levels of analysis and the limitations of methodological individualisms (2011)
7. The limitations illustrated: examples from the research literature on macrosocial change (2007)
8. Reflections on Part III: levels of analysis
Part IV. Institutions of Modernity and Post-Modernity: The Construction of Actors: 9. The 'actors' of modern society: the cultural construction of social agency (2000)
10. Reflections: institutional theory and world society (2009)
11. Reflections on Part IV: the construction of actors
Part V. Conclusion: 12. Concluding reflections: evolving cultural models in global and national society.

Subject Areas: Social research & statistics [JHBC], Social theory [JHBA], Sociology [JHB], Society & social sciences [J], Institutions & learned societies: general [GTN]