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3 - The Promise of Field Theory for the Study of Political Institutions

from I - Theories of Political Sociology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2020

By
Caleb Scoville  and
Neil Fligstein
Edited by
Thomas Janoski ,
Cedric de Leon ,
Joya Misra  and
Isaac William Martin
Thomas Janoski
Affiliation:
University of Kentucky
Cedric de Leon
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Joya Misra
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Isaac William Martin
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
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Summary

Field theory is a promising and flexible framework for understanding social order and change with broad applicability to the concerns of political sociologists. While many in the subfield are rightly concerned with the relationship between “the state” and civil society, the implicit definition of political sociology as “the sociology of the state” has foreclosed opportunities for understanding how states, markets, firms, nonprofit organizations, and uninstitutionalized politics that include social movements are connected. This chapter presents field theory as a generative approach to understanding political phenomena that moves beyond the limitations of state-based approaches to political sociology, providing opportunities for sharing theoretical insights across subfield boundaries.

Keywords

field theoryinstitutionsstrategic action frameChinaGermanyEnergy
Type
Chapter
Information
The New Handbook of Political Sociology , pp. 79 - 101
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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