New Institutionalism: Theory and Analysis

Judith E. Franchuk is a librarian in the Cameron Library at the
University of Alberta.

André Lecours has put together an outstanding collection of critical
works that encompass new institutionalism from a number of perspectives
and subfields within political science. His introduction explains
“old” and “new” institutionalism, as well as the influences and
impacts that follow from the spectrum of perspectives (from materialist
to normative) that are found in new institutionalism.

The chapters in Part 1 discuss and debate the variety of theoretical
elements within institutionalism. Each of the chapters in Part 2 weaves
theory and history together to provide an interesting look at both the
English and the French political scientific perspectives on
institutionalism in Canadian politics. The chapters in Parts 3, 4, and 5
examine new institutionalism with respect to aspects of the political
landscape (both domestic and international) that challenge the theory
and practice of current processes. The notes at the end of the
introduction and at the end of each chapter provide the reader with a
wealth of further resources.

Political science students and researchers interested in the
institutions and processes that shape the political field will find New
Institutionalism an important resource.