Beyond Microfoundations and Macrofoundations of Institutions

A Multi-Level Theory of Institutions

Transcending the limitations of Coleman’s “bathtub” metaphor, papers advance a multilevel theory of institutions as dynamic, recursive systems. Rather than privileging micro-action or macro-structure, contributors view institutions as a continuum where influence flows continuously across levels—from individual cognition to societal logics.

Beyond Microfoundations and Macrofoundations of Institutions challenges the binary distinction that has long constrained institutional scholarship. Transcending the limitations of Coleman’s “bathtub” metaphor, this volume advances a multilevel theory of institutions as dynamic, recursive systems. Rather than privileging micro-action or macro-structure, the contributors view institutions as a continuum where influence flows continuously across levels—from individual cognition to societal logics.

Building on previous Research in the Sociology of Organizations volumes, this collection shifts the analytical focus from static "boxes" to the "arrows" that connect them. A central theme is that communication and language serve as the critical bridge traversing these levels, enabling meanings to aggregate and disseminate. By integrating these perspectives, this volume offers a framework where constraint and agency coevolve, encouraging scholars to "lean into" the complexity of cross-level interactions.

Contributor: Patrick Haack (Edited by), Timothy R. Hannigan (Edited by), Derek Harmon (Edited by), Helen Etchanchu (Edited by)

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