INSTITUTIONS

Jaconiah Shelumiel T. Manalaysay, MA

Learning Objectives
Explain key perspectives about institutions taken from
various scholars and thinkers

Explain the role of formal and informal institutions

in selected contemporary politics and governance
Module 2 Overview
WEEK 1: Defining institutions and organizations;
Institutions and inclusivity

WEEK 2: Debates on institutions

How do institutions help us
understand politics?

Why do institutions matter?

How do institutions relate
with organizations?

How do norms and institutions

contribute to social and
political change?
Finnemore and Sikkink (1998)
20th C political science was dominated by rationalism and
realism

Focused heavily on the formal institutions and organizations

1970s: ideational turn in politics = constructivism

Constructivism
Significant aspects of [international] relations are shaped by
ideational factors and not simply material factors (Finnemore
and Sikkink, 1998; Wendt, 1999 ; Barnett, 2008)

“A shared reality”

interaction --> knowledge

NORMS
What are norms?

“A standard of appropriate behavior for actors with a given

identity” (F&S, 1998)

Categories of norms
• Regulative norms
• Constitutive norms
• Prescriptive norms
 HOW DO NORMS
COME ABOUT?

Where does it start?

Stage 1: Norm Emergence

Started by norm entrepreneurs, who convince the masses to

embrace new norms

Issue-framing through persuasion

Here, society must understand and believe in the image and

condition of the world that the norms aim to create
Stage 1: Norm Emergence

“normative contestation”

Some normative projects do not succeed in the contestation

When they do succeed = tipping point

Stage 2: Norm Cascade

Norm entrepreneurs vs norm leaders

Norm followers join in due to various reasons (legitimacy,
reputation, esteem, etc.)
Cascading through socialization, institutionalization, and
demonstration

Primary goal of socialization is conformity

Politics and power most seen here
Stage 3: Norm Internalization

Norms become taken-for-granted and integral to living

“thoughtless compliance”

What norms get internalized? (F&S, 1998)

1.Legitimized
2.Prominent
3.Clear and specific
Norm: women's suffrage

Norm entrepreneur: suffragettes and organizations for women’s

voting rights
Norm emergence: women should have the same rights as men
Tipping point: (1) rallies and lobbying legislators of the National
Assembly (1910-1937), and (2) plebiscite in 1937
Norm cascading: debates among political circles and arguments
with politicians
Norm internalization: succeeding constitutions have both women
and men with the same voting rights
 NORMS ARE ONLY AS
EFFECTIVE AS THE
INSTITUTIONS WHICH
NORMALIZE AND LEGITIMIZE
THEM
THE STATE