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2016 | Buch

Subversion in Institutional Change and Stability

A Neglected Mechanism

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This book theorizes subversive action, a neglected mechanism in the new institutionalism literature. Subversive action is political in nature, secretly undermining some institutions to open up alternative ideas or to secure existing institutions by secretly undermining adversaries. An example is a politician who promises change in public, but does something else behind the scenes to preserve the status quo. The book addresses the nature and meaning of subversive action and the contexts that give rise to it, as well as how it can work as an important mechanism behind institutional change and continuity. The book will interest students and scholars of public policy, public administration and political science.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
This introductory chapter gives an overview of how different versions of new institutionalism explain institutional change and continuity, and argues that traditional explanations have largely neglected the role of political agency with limiting effects on their explanatory power. It is argued that we need to pay more attention to the political nature of institutions and agency. In relation to this, the phenomenon of institutional subversion is presented and conceptualized. It is argued that subversive action is a neglected micro-mechanism that needs to be theorized in relation to other mechanisms of human action in furthering our knowledge on the micro-foundation of institutions. The purpose of this book is to theorize on how subversive action can contribute to a more elaborated understanding of institutional change and stability.
Jan Olsson
Chapter 2. Agency in New Institutionalism
Abstract
This chapter deals with agency in new institutionalism, often argued to be sparsely theorized. A critical assessment is made of the micro-level theorizing of the dominant versions of new institutionalism. After that we present and assess the argument of Vivienne Lowndes and Mark Roberts (2013: Why institutions matter: The new institutionalism in political science. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan) that new institutionalism is entering a third phase of consolidation. Partly based on this argument, a theoretical positioning is made on how to perceive agency in a more political sense with a focus on various micro-mechanisms of action. Thus, it is an argument of consolidation and of upgrading political discourse and action in contrast to the dominance of new institutionalism theorizing inspired by economics and sociology.
Jan Olsson
Chapter 3. Subversive Action
Abstract
This chapter elaborates on the nature and meaning of subversive action—a micro-mechanism which is political in nature in that it secretly undermines some institutions to open up for alternative ideas, values, and interests or secures existing institutions by secretly undermining adversaries. The meaning of the concept is discussed in relation to other concepts and theories. The second section makes a literature overview of the phenomenon of subversive action and different conceptualizations of it in order to analyze similarities and differences of how it is understood and defined in this book. In contrast to previous contributions, it is argued that subversive action may very well be a fundamental mechanism in the daily life of public organizations.
Jan Olsson
Chapter 4. Subversive Action in Context
Abstract
This chapter discusses what contexts tend to give rise to subversive action. The main conclusion is that subversion is a fairly common phenomenon ‘under the surface’ in the daily life of public organizations: on different levels of organization, in different policy areas, and among various policy actors. However, we can expect subversive actions to be particularly likely and important in institutional contexts where value dilemmas and conflicts are sharp and difficult to handle and in those instances we can also expect subversive action from the outside of organizations. In cases with difficult value dilemmas and conflicts, subversive action will likely continue over time, while in other cases where strong value conflicts are temporary, we can expect subversive actions to decline more or less.
Jan Olsson
Chapter 5. Stability, Change, and Subversive Action
Abstract
This chapter theorizes on how subversive action in combination with other micro-mechanisms can explain institutional stability and change. A central argument is that when subversive ideas are more or less in place within organizations minor changes in the environment can trigger them into subversive action in support for stability or change. Different forms of subversive action can work as mechanisms either to preserve stability, for instance, by secretly resisting new initiatives, or by producing change in existing institutions, for example, subversive networking. The neglect of subversive action means that institutional theory has underestimated the power of gradual change and the interactivity between endogenous and exogenous forces. The chapter elaborates also on three strategies of subversion: exploiting institutional ambiguities, handling the secrecy–openness dilemma, and subversive networking.
Jan Olsson
Chapter 6. Conclusions and Reflections
Abstract
This chapter starts with a summary of the main arguments and findings as well as some reflections on ethical aspects on subversive action. In discussing future research needs, it is argued that we should develop a new political institutionalism, based on systematic empirical research on subversion in combination with other micro-mechanisms behind institutional change and continuity. It is a difficult challenge to study something that is not meant to be known, but we can draw on insights from whistleblowing research and previous case studies. A fruitful empirical strategy is to work from three different starting points: observed institutional change (backward mapping), critical cases with strong value conflicts, and whistleblowing activities. Mixed methods and materials are necessary to capture the complexity of political agency.
Jan Olsson
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Subversion in Institutional Change and Stability
verfasst von
Jan Olsson
Copyright-Jahr
2016
Electronic ISBN
978-1-349-94922-9
Print ISBN
978-1-349-94921-2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94922-9