Beyond the Stable Image of Institutions: Using Institutional Analysis to Tackle Classic Questions in Institutional Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Philippe Bouilloud ◽  
Mar Pérezts ◽  
Thierry Viale ◽  
Valentin Schaepelynck
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Institutional Analysis ◽  
Critical Dimension ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Social Imaginary ◽  
Constant Change ◽  
The Social ◽  
Organizational Institutionalism ◽  
Agency And Structure

Although institutions are subject to constant change, we retain a stable image of them. Consequently, should they be considered as objects or processes? Notwithstanding its success, institutional theory still faces theoretical challenges to account simultaneously for change and stability, agency and structure. Following recent calls to integrate other perspectives on how we think about institutions, we draw on institutional analysis – a stream that has flourished in Europe and Latin America – to propose a radical and comprehensive conception of the institution as a locus of tension between the instituting (by which institutions are formed) and the instituted (temporarily stabilized forms). Since there is permanent tension between them, the institution itself can never be a stable object. It is constantly evolving, being either reinforced or destabilized. This research enriches the theoretical dialogue between organizational institutionalism and institutional analysis, two streams that have hitherto displayed little cross-fertilization. First, it contributes to rethinking the nature of institutions by emphasizing the role of the social imaginary, thus improving our understanding of the under-theorized role of imagination in institutionalization processes. Second, by placing the dynamic tension between the instituted and the instituting at the core of institutional theories, we answer calls to reclaim their missing critical dimension. Furthermore, this results in a methodological implication: the clinical approach of institutional analysis involving the intervention of researchers allows us to further embed institutional theories in organizational practice.

Ageing and gender

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-68
Author(s):  
Chris Gilleard ◽  
Paul Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Social Imaginary ◽  
Financial Assets ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Bonding Capital

This chapter begins by considering the distinction between sex and gender. The latter constitutes the source of the social division between men and women considered as social beings. It serves as both a reflection of division and inequality and a source of difference and identity. The chapter then explores the framing of this division in terms of patriarchy and the inequalities that are organised by and structured within the relations of work and of social reproduction. It focuses next upon the consequences of such a division, first in terms of both financial assets and resources and then in terms of social relational capital, drawing upon Putnam’s distinction between bridging and bonding capital. It then considers other sources of difference that become more salient in later life, in terms of health illness and longevity. The chapter ends with the role of gender in representing later life, and the role of later life in representing gender. It concludes by distinguishing between gender as a structure shaping third age culture, and gender as a constituent in the social imaginary of the fourth age.

scholarly journals The Role of Emotion Discourse and Pathic Stigma in the Delegitimization of Consumer Practices

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Valor ◽  
Javier Lloveras ◽  
Eleni Papaoikonomou
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Discursive Psychology ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Drawing on institutional theory and discursive psychology, this article elucidates how actors use emotion discourse to undermine the legitimacy of consumer practices. Based on an empirical investigation of the bullfighting controversy in Spain, our work shows how activists engage in the production and circulation of compelling emotional prototypes of their adversaries. Such emotional prototypes constitute the discursive foundations of a pathic stigma, which, once established, taints the identity of the social groups associated with the practice. Our work frames the centrality of pathic stigmatization as a cultural mechanism mediating the relationship between emotion discourse and the subsequent delegitimization of consumer practices. We make three key contributions to the literature: we advance a rhetorical perspective on emotions and their role in deinstitutionalization processes; we further develop the theory of marketplace sentiments by showing how sentiments operate downstream; and we provide evidence of the sociocultural mechanisms underpinning the emotional vilification, stereotyping and stigmatization of consumer collectives.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE? AGENCY AND THE CAUSATION OF TRANSFORMATIVE EVENTS IN IRELAND'S 1916 RISING AND 1969 LONG MARCH*

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Bosi ◽  
Donagh Davis
Keyword(s):  
Paired Comparison ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Strategic Interactions ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Easter Rising ◽  
Structural Forces ◽  
The Social ◽  
Agency And Structure

This article investigates the role of agency in the causation of transformative events by looking at the competition between rival strands within social movements. The creative activity involved in the elaboration and execution of rival strategies is used as a proxy for agency. We present a paired comparison of two very different transformative events in twentieth-century Ireland—the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Long March from Belfast to Derry in 1969—and the strategic interactions preceding them. The comparison shows how agency and structure can interact around transformative events. High levels of agency were instrumental in making the events, and in turn these events catalyzed powerful social forces. These forces were structural—that is, they reflected divisions, tensions, and power relations that were deeply engrained in the social structure over the long term. However, these structural forces could have remained dormant had it not been for the bursts of agency that brought about the transformative events in question. We also see in these cases that the balance between structure and agency is dynamic, sometimes shifting from one moment to another rather than remaining constant.

scholarly journals Functionaries: Institutional Theory without Institutions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin S. Stoltz ◽  
Marshall A. Taylor ◽  
Omar Lizardo
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Institutional Change ◽  
Institutional Analysis ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurship ◽  
Conceptual Metaphors ◽  
Ideal Types ◽  
Know How

In conceptualizing institutions, theorists tend to resort to conceptual metaphors of ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴇʀs or sᴜʙsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs. We argue these construals are responsible for difficulties analysts encounter in conceptualizing the sources and mechanisms behind institutional change. We propose ᴅɪsᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛɪᴏɴ as a more effective foundational metaphor for institutional analysis. From this perspective, institutions are conceived as non-random dispersals of activity and knowledge across people and not as containers encasing persons or substances endowed with an essence. Most of a population may know how to take interactional advantage of an institution but few know how to keep institutions going and are therefore usually powerless to change them. This means those who do have the requisite operational knowledge and engage in the required upkeep activities, whom we refer to as “functionaries,” play pivotal roles in institutional change and reproduction. We revise theories of institutional entrepreneurship around the role of functionaries, and distinguish between two ideal types of institutional change.

scholarly journals ‘A carga mais pesada do mercado é a carga docente’: sobre (des)valorização, (des/re)conhecimento e (des)respeito a figura do professor em tempos de crise

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Francisco Renato Lima
Keyword(s):  
Social Imaginary ◽  
Teaching Load ◽  
Educational Culture ◽  
The Social ◽  
Current Context ◽  
Qualitative Nature ◽  
Cultura Escolar ◽  
The Voice ◽  
Nature Of Teaching

A natureza do trabalho docente é, por si só, complexa e marcada por desafios que têm sido, nos últimos anos, objeto de reflexão das mais variadas abordagens epistemológicas no campo dos estudos educacionais. Na esteira dessas pesquisas, o presente estudo objetiva refletir sobre o papel do docente no contexto atual, apontando para sua excessiva sobrecarga horária de trabalho profissional e, ao mesmo tempo, sobre o enfrentamento às situações de desvalorização, falta de reconhecimento e desrespeito ao trabalho docente na sociedade. A costura das ideias apresentadas parte de um estudo bibliográfico e exploratório de natureza qualitativa, construído à luz de Althusser (1985), Arroyo (2000), Bastos (2009), Bourdieu (2004), Candau (2014), Chizzotti; Almeida (2019), Diniz-Pereira (2011), Enguita (1991), Gasparini, Barreto e Assunção (2005), Libâneo (2018), Nóvoa (1995, 2009, 2017), Pimenta (2009), Tardif e Lessard (2005), entre outros. Em alusão metafórica à música ‘A carne’, imortalizada na voz de Elza Soares, com o verso ‘a carne mais barata do mercado é a carne negra’ em que o trabalho docente é associado como sendo o ‘mais pesado do mercado’, pelo excesso de demandas e o pouco reconhecimento e valorização. Semelhante a um efeito dominó, o modo como a figura do professor vem sendo tratada em seu percurso de inserção na cultura escolar e educacional brasileira; desencadeia uma série de questões, como: i) a desvalorização de seu trabalho; ii) a sobrecarga de atribuições a ele destinadas; iii) os problemas de saúde; iv) uma crise de identidade. Um possível caminho ao enfrentamento e à superação dessa crise é a reestruturação do imaginário social sobre o trabalho docente, a fim de reconquistar sua sobrevivência cultural e profissional; e, com isso, tornar mais leve ‘a carga docente’ no atual mercado de trabalho.Palavras-chave: Trabalho docente. Desvalorização. Sobrecarga de atividades. Saúde do profissional da educação. Identidade profissional.'The heaviest load on the market is the teaching load': about (un) valuing, (un / re) knowledge and (un) respecting the figure of the teacher in times of crisis ABSTRACTThe nature of teaching work is, in itself, complex and marked by challenges that have been, in recent years, the object of reflection of the most varied epistemological approaches in the field of educational studies. In the wake of these researches, the present study aims to reflect on the role of the teacher in the current context, pointing to his excessive overload of professional work and, at the same time, on coping with situations of devaluation, lack of recognition and disrespect for teaching work. in society. The sewing of the presented ideas starts from a bibliographical and exploratory study of qualitative nature, built in the light of Althusser (1985), Arroyo (2000), Bastos (2009), Bourdieu (2004), Candau (2014), Chizzotti; Almeida (2019), Diniz-Pereira (2011), Enguita (1991), Gasparini, Barreto e Assunção (2005), Libâneo (2018), Nóvoa (1995, 2009, 2017), Pimenta (2009), Tardif e Lessard (2005), among others. In a metaphorical allusion to the song 'A carne', immortalized in the voice of Elza Soares, with the verse 'the cheapest meat on the market is black meat', in which teaching work is associated with being the 'heaviest on the market', excessive demands and little recognition and appreciation. Similar to a domino effect, the way the figure of the teacher has been treated in his path of insertion in the Brazilian school and educational culture; triggers a series of issues, such as: i) the devaluation of their work; ii) the overload of duties assigned to him; iii) health problems; iv) an identity crisis. A possible way to face and overcome this crisis is to restructure the social imaginary about teaching work, in order to regain its cultural and professional survival; and, with that, make 'the teaching load' lighter in the current job market.Keywords: Teaching work. Devaluation. Overload of activities. Health of the education professional. Professional identity'La carga más pesada en el mercado es la carga de enseñanza': sobre (des) valoración, (des / re) conocimiento y (des) respeto a la figura del maestro en tiempos de crisis.RESUMENLa naturaleza del trabajo docente es, en sí misma, compleja y marcada por desafíos que han sido, en los últimos años, el objeto de reflexión de los más diversos enfoques epistemológicos en el campo de los estudios educativos. A raíz de estas investigaciones, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre el papel del profesor en el contexto actual, señalando su sobrecarga excesiva de trabajo profesional y, al mismo tiempo, sobre cómo hacer frente a situaciones de devaluación, falta de reconocimiento y falta de respeto por el trabajo docente. en la sociedad La costura de las ideas presentadas parte de un estudio bibliográfico y exploratorio de naturaleza cualitativa, construido a la luz de Althusser (1985), Arroyo (2000), Bastos (2009), Bourdieu (2004), Candau (2014), Chizzotti; Almeida (2019), Diniz-Pereira (2011), Enguita (1991), Gasparini, Barreto e Assunção (2005), Libâneo (2018), Nóvoa (1995, 2009, 2017), Pimenta (2009), Tardif e Lessard (2005), entre otros. En una alusión metafórica a la canción 'A carne', inmortalizada en la voz de Elza Soares, con el verso 'la carne más barata del mercado es la carne negra', en la que el trabajo docente se asocia con ser el 'más pesado del mercado', demandas excesivas y poco reconocimiento y apreciación. Similar a un efecto dominó, la forma en que la figura del maestro ha sido tratada en su camino de inserción en la cultura escolar y educativa brasileña; desencadena una serie de problemas, tales como: i) la devaluación de su trabajo; ii) la sobrecarga de deberes asignados a él; iii) problemas de salud; iv) una crisis de identidad. Una posible forma de enfrentar y superar esta crisis es reestructurar el imaginario social sobre el trabajo docente, para recuperar su supervivencia cultural y profesional; y, con eso, hacer "la carga docente" más ligera en el mercado laboral actual.Palabras clave: Trabajo docente. Devaluación Sobrecarga de actividades. Salud del profesional de la educación. Identidad profesional.

Social Representations and Commitment

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bonetto ◽  
Fabien Girandola ◽  
Grégory Lo Monaco
Keyword(s):  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
First Line ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Bibliographic Search ◽  
English Articles

Abstract. This contribution consists of a critical review of the literature about the articulation of two traditionally separated theoretical fields: social representations and commitment. Besides consulting various works and communications, a bibliographic search was carried out (between February and December, 2016) on various databases using the keywords “commitment” and “social representation,” in the singular and in the plural, in French and in English. Articles published in English or in French, that explicitly made reference to both terms, were included. The relations between commitment and social representations are approached according to two approaches or complementary lines. The first line follows the role of commitment in the representational dynamics: how can commitment transform the representations? This articulation gathers most of the work on the topic. The second line envisages the social representations as determinants of commitment procedures: how can these representations influence the effects of commitment procedures? This literature review will identify unexploited tracks, as well as research perspectives for both areas of research.

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