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Explanations of Institutional Change: Reflecting on a “Missing Diagonal”

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  • GERSCHEWSKI, JOHANNES

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 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.

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  • Gerschewski, Johannes, 2021. "Explanations of Institutional Change: Reflecting on a “Missing Diagonal”," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(1), pages 218-233, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:115:y:2021:i:1:p:218-233_15
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    Cited by:

    1. Tobias Lenz & Besir Ceka & Liesbet Hooghe & Gary Marks & Alexandr Burilkov, 2023. "Discovering cooperation: Endogenous change in international organizations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 631-666, October.
    2. Hartley, Tilman, 2023. "State crisis theory: A systematization of institutional, socio-ecological, demographicstructural, world-systems, and revolutions research," Working Paper Series 01/2023, Post-Growth Economics Network (PEN).
    3. Maria Josepha Debre & Hylke Dijkstra, 2021. "COVID‐19 and Policy Responses by International Organizations: Crisis of Liberal International Order or Window of Opportunity?," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 12(4), pages 443-454, September.
    4. de Looze, Annemiek & ten Caat, Sander & Maiello, Antonella & Jhagroe, Shivant & Cuppen, Eefje, 2024. "Temporalities of energy justice: Changing justice conceptions in Dutch energy policy between 1974 and 2022," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Avlijas, Sonja & Gartzou-Katsouyanni, Kira, 2024. "Firm-centered approaches to overcoming semi-peripheral constraints," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 123742, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Maria J. Debre & Hylke Dijkstra, 2023. "Are international organisations in decline? An absolute and relative perspective on institutional change," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(1), pages 16-30, February.

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