The human condition teems with institutions – intertemporal social arrangements that shape human relations in support of particular values – and the social scientific work developed over the last five decades aimed at understanding them is similarly vast and diverse. This book synthesizes scholarship from across the social sciences, with special focus on political science, sociology, economics, and organizational studies. Drawing out institutions' essentially social and temporal qualities and their varying relationships to efficiency and power, the authors identify more underlying similarity in understandings of institutional origins, maintenance, and change than emerges from overviews from within any given disciplinary tradition. Most importantly, Theories of Institutions identifies dozens of avenues for cross-fertilization, the pursuit of which can help keep this broad and inherently diverse field of study vibrant for future generations of scholars.

‘In reaction to dominant ideologies and theories stressing the autonomy of modern actors, an emergent family of theories emphasizes their embeddedness in institutions. This book impressively and comprehensively reviews these lines of thought as they arise in political science, sociology, and economics. It will be of great use to students and scholars in all the social sciences.'

John W. Meyer - Stanford University

‘Jupille and Caporaso have produced a sweeping review of theories of human institutions as they have developed in political science, sociology, economics, and history, highlighting two critical themes. First, institutions incorporate values: they are not just a set of rules. Second, the current literature underestimates the extent to which power arrangements are incorporated in all institutions. A stunning accomplishment; a tour de force in the original sense of the word.'

Bryan D. Jones - University of Texas at Austin

‘Impressive in scope and content, Theories of Institutions provides a sweeping review of the major traditions in institutional analysis, revealing important nuances within each one. By bringing ‘power' back into the discussion it also helps bridge different disciplinary approaches. A book like this is long overdue and a major contribution.'

John Campbell - Dartmouth College

‘This is an ambitious and timely attempt to pull together – or at least to understand and connect – several disparate disciplinary approaches to understanding ‘institutions'. For organizational theorists the book provides many insights, raises important issues, and should prompt reflection on where we might go from here. We may not all agree with some of the issues and statements made, but the scope and purpose makes this a text that matters. Read on!'

Royston Greenwood - University of Alberta