First, Cathie Jo Martin explores how cultural assumptions embedded in novels contribute to the institutional evolution of education systems in Britain and Denmark. Comparable British and Danish coming-of-age novels suggest wildly different conceptions of the individual in society, and views about the institutions appropriate for social change. Novels provide a forum for reworking deep cultural norms in response to exogenous challenges, and offer a source of continuity within processes of institutional change.
Second, Giovanni Capoccia integrates historical institutionalism’s insights into endogenous institutional change, by analyzing the institutional conditions under which “bottom-up” processes of gradual change are counteracted. The institutionalization of cultural categories and the allocation of power over the timing of reform are important variables for understanding how pre-existing institutions may enable institutional incumbents to channel, delay, or prevent institutional change altogether.
Third, Mark Thatcher, explores how the state creates “national culture” with public policies governing historic preservation. The state may develop, identify or promote culture for economic purposes, or use public policy to mold cultural nationalism and national identity. Thatcher sheds light on diverse patterns of policy development in Britain, France and Italy.
Finally, Birgit Pfau-Effinger asks how cultural assumptions influence institutional changes in the welfare state. In particular, Pfau-Effinger explores the different sequences of change in the institutions of welfare state policies towards women’s employment and childcare in the German and Finnish welfare state between 1960 and 2010.
