Historical Institutionalism: Theory and Methods Revisited

Abstract

Institutionalists have often taken a rather mechanical view of the way institutions shape choices. This paper argues that we should take the "Historical" side of HI more seriously. Specifically, we can and should test our theories about how history and institutional context shape people preferences, beliefs and choices. I further argue that recent advances in experimental methods can aid in the pursuit of an Historical Insitutionalism that "Brings People Back In."