Toward a Theory of Social Institutions Ellen Lust, University of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

toward a theory of social institutions
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

Toward a Theory of Social Institutions Ellen Lust, University of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Toward a Theory of Social Institutions Ellen Lust, University of Gothenburg Goals Provide Framework for Understanding Role of Social Institutions Define Social Institutions (SIs) Distinguish SIs from other Concepts Demonstrate


slide-1
SLIDE 1

Toward a Theory of Social Institutions

Ellen Lust, University of Gothenburg

slide-2
SLIDE 2

Goals

Ø Provide Framework for Understanding Role of Social Institutions Ø Define Social Institutions (SIs) Ø Distinguish SIs from other Concepts Ø Demonstrate Importance of SIs in PS: Misconceptions and Mispecified Models Ø Challenges in Studying SIs and Potential Solutions

slide-3
SLIDE 3

Social Institutions

The rules – written or unwritten – that govern social relations within a community, the rewards accorded to observing them and costs of transgression * Cradle to Grave: marry, children reared, resources distributed, security ensured, buried and inheritance * Rules: group boundary maintenance, reciprocity, risk management * Slow-Moving/Sticky

slide-4
SLIDE 4

What Social Institutions are Not

  • Not Organizations
  • Not Informal Institutions
  • Not Social Capital or Social Networks
  • Not Social Composition – ethnicity, urban/rural, etc.
  • Not Culture – rules vs. preferences
slide-5
SLIDE 5

What Social Institutions Do

  • 1. Indirect Influences (examples)

Reciprocity, Group Boundaries: Patron-Client relations Homosociality: Gender imbalances in political office holding 2. Direct Incentives (examples) Maintenance of social relations/norms: Voting, Bureaucratic “Corruption”

slide-6
SLIDE 6

Why Take Social Institutions Seriously?

slide-7
SLIDE 7

Ethnicity and Service Provision: Sub-National Variation in Ethnicization

slide-8
SLIDE 8

10 6 14 8 9 17 8 7 5 9 15 6 6 7 3 16 3 7 7 9 4 3 11 5 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Bayda Tobruk Benghazi Ajdabiya Sirte Sabha Ubari Gharian Misrata Khoms Tripoli Aziziya Zawiya

Elections and Electoral Rules: Distribution of Majoritarian and PR Seats, Libya

Majoritarian PR

slide-9
SLIDE 9

Preliminary Framework for Incorporating Social Institutions into Political Science:

ORGANIZATION NAME (CHANGE HEADER USE THE INSERT TAB-HEADER/FOOTER)

Ø Differentiated or Uniform Roles and Rules Ø Content of Norms and Rules: reciprocity, risk mitigation, boundary maintenance Ø Overlapping and Segmented Domains/Cleavages: Individuals under multiple SIs (kin, religious, colleagues) Ø Constituencies: SIs in locality: multiple vs. single communities? Ø Strength: density of social ties, connectivity Ø Legitimacy/Consensus: over rule vs. threshold of applicability

slide-10
SLIDE 10

Methodological Challenges and Solutions?

  • 1. Challenges:

– Disentangling Political and Social Institutions – Determining the Appropriate Level of Analysis – Isolating/Specifying Social Institutions

  • 2. Approach/Solutions:

– Arenas of Interest: Gender, Migration, Ethnicity – Determining the Appropriate Level of Analysis

slide-11
SLIDE 11

Conclusion

Ø Draw attention to Social Institutions, distinct from other concepts Ø Suggest framework for Social Institutions, incorporating some familiar concepts (ex. Networks) Ø Provide Starting Point for Study, Recognizing Methodological Challenges