I am having a difficult time comparing, contrasting, and explaining historical institutionalism and rational choice institutionalism for a paper because I do not understand these two theories at all. PLEASE HELP!! (wikipedia cannot be used as a source of information in my paper)
I urge to first read the sections on rational choice and historical institutionalism in Wikipedia. It presents clear and concise definitions of the two. You do not need to use it as a documented source, but for your own knowledge.
From those brief paragraphs, I see an analogy between these concepts and an investment club I helped form about 15 years ago. We came together by rational choice and used this method of drawing up club bylaws to benefit all of the members. By now, though, that institutionalism has become historical institutionalism and we rarely change our past rules and traditions.
Check these sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_institutionalism#Rational_choice_institutionalism
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:rUDbMBiuHmIJ:stripe.colorado.edu/~steinmo/foweracker.pdf+rational+choice+institutionalism&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShfGoYBC7QLSUDeobx61GWv29vHMUAOfGe6BbE-OqYuChhbfyG82A6kebywzciVWugc-le-hNxPRibiQZFLrUtVheOkOmSc103E1Ity24bD9oA2ZHQuJtSih-vrcPlmRzvwMvct&sig=AFQjCNE-8JShUd6Sln5CMEDUk6RaeZzxrQ
Thanks. I'll try to work from that.
I can definitely help you understand historical institutionalism and rational choice institutionalism!
Historical institutionalism and rational choice institutionalism are two prominent theoretical approaches in the field of political science. Both theories aim to explain how institutions shape behavior and outcomes, but they approach this task from different angles.
1. Historical institutionalism:
Historical institutionalism emphasizes the importance of historical events, path dependence, and the role of institutions in shaping political behavior and outcomes. It posits that institutions are historically constructed and evolve over time, and their development strongly influences political behavior.
To understand historical institutionalism, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by understanding the key concept of historical path dependence. This refers to the idea that current decisions and outcomes are heavily influenced by past events and decisions.
2. Study the role of critical events, crises, and policy legacies. Historical institutionalists argue that specific events and crisis points can trigger institutional change or continuity.
3. Explore the concept of institutional layering, which suggests that new institutions are built on existing ones rather than replacing them entirely. This approach helps to explain why institutions tend to persist and evolve rather than being completely overhauled.
4. Analyze how historical institutionalism views actors' behavior as being influenced by institutional structures, norms, and routines.
2. Rational choice institutionalism:
Rational choice institutionalism, on the other hand, focuses on the individual behavior of actors within institutions. It assumes that actors are rational decision-makers who engage in cost-benefit analyses when making choices. This theory explains how institutions emerge and change through the interactions of self-interested individuals.
To understand rational choice institutionalism, you can follow these steps:
1. Familiarize yourself with the concept of rational choice theory, which posits that individuals make decisions based on their own self-interests while considering the costs and benefits associated with different choices.
2. Study the role of institutions as rules that structure the behavior of actors. Institutions are seen as tools for maximizing individual interests.
3. Understand how rational choice institutionalism employs game theory to model strategic interactions between actors within institutional contexts.
4. Analyze how rational choice institutionalism explains collective action problems, coordination issues, and the emergence of social norms within institutions.
To understand these theories fully, it would be beneficial to read scholarly articles, political science textbooks, or research papers that specifically discuss historical institutionalism and rational choice institutionalism. These sources will provide more in-depth explanations, case studies, and empirical evidence to support the theories.
Remember, it's crucial to consult academic sources beyond Wikipedia to gather accurate information for your paper. Good luck with your research!