Rule-Making Rules: An Analytical Framework for Political Institutions

Political institutions have been neglected in the theoretical literature, according to Stefano Bartolini. He defines them as norms and rules of conferral that empower rulers, set limits to behavioral compliance, and define the proper means for achieving it. This book appeals to researchers of political institutions in comparative politics, political science, and political sociology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 313 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Stefano Bartolini contends that, despite the proliferation of a substantial theoretical literature on institutions and institutionalism over the past thirty years, the precise nature of political institutions has received relatively limited attention. Political institutions have been overshadowed by the broader challenges of the emergence, persistence, change, and functions of all types of institutions. The author defines political institutions narrowly as norms and rules of conferral, distinct from norms/rules of conduct and recognition. These norms and rules empower rulers, establish boundaries on the ability to ensure behavioral compliance, and define the appropriate means for achieving such compliance. This book derives logical and empirical implications from this understanding, aimed at distinguishing different types of norms/rules and specifying the unique characteristics of those norms/rules that pertain to politics. The book will hold appeal to scholars engaged in the study of political institutions in comparative politics, as well as political science and political sociology more broadly.

ISBN-13: 9781009206280