New Institutionalism Politics: Integration of Old Institutionalism and Other Methodologies

Abstract

In the process of transition from old institutionalism to new institutionalism, theoretical foundation of old institutionalism was gradually enlarged and more research approaches were integrated. Firstly, rational aspects of behavioristic politics as borrowed. Then, its epistemology, its research target and research level are expanded. Finally, relevant theories of economics, sociology and history are absorbed. At last, a new school in political science is formed on the basis of integration with several methodologies, namely, new institutionalism politics. With continual development of politics theory, its methodology is also being improved incessantly. More theoretical hypothesis and research tools bring into existence a flourishing sight. Transition from old institutionalism into new institutionalism politics is more an outcome of integration of institutionalism with other research methods on the basis of criticizing its own defects than improvement of research methods of institutionalism. 1. Major viewpoints of new institutionalism methodology Since March & Olsen formally applied the phrase of "new institutionalism", different understanding of new institutionalism in institutionalism has largely enhanced our understanding in the political world. Major viewpoints of new institutionalism methodology include the following. (1) Emphasis on importance of institutionalism, and understanding of political life from the perspective of institutionalism, which makes political life the center of politics research again. (2) At the time of emphasizing importance of institutionalism, analysis on personal preference and behavior is added. (3) It revises negligence of behaviorism on political value, attaches importance to substantive justice of institutionalism and procedure itself, and focuses on analysis and judgment on "positive" institutionalism. (4) It determines the core status of institutionalism analysis method, but has neglected neither interests and strategies of political behavers, nor distribution of power among them. On the contrary, it places these factors into a specific context, and reveals relations between these factors by observing ways of establishment of a political context. Therefore, by placing structured factors into the central position of analysis, institutionalism analytical method can enable theoretical practitioners to grasp the complexity of an actual political situation, but not at the cost of sacrificing clarification of a theory. (5) According to new institutionalism politics, not only history affects institutionalism, but what's more, institutionalism affects history, and it is institutionalism, but not an individual, that is the primary target of political science research. That, to a great extent, facilitates our understanding in institutionalism and the historical progress of institutionalism development.