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Variation in Institutional Strength

Bibliographic Data

ID7635323
AuthorsSteven Levitsky (Harvard University), María Victoria Murillo (0000-0001-6972-4750, Columbia University)
Year2009
Volume12
Issue1
Pages115-133
Publication date2009-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnnual Review of Political Science (BOOK_SERIES)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1094-2939 • E-ISSN: 1545-1577
PublisherAnnual Reviews (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1146/annurev.polisci.11.091106.121756
OpenAlexW2125931672
LanguageEN
Citations received199
References cited86

Comparative research on political institutions has begun to turn from issues of formal institutional design to issues of institutional strength. Rather than assuming a tight fit between formal rules and political behavior, these studies examine how variation in the stability and/or enforcement of formal rules shapes actors' expectations and behavior. This article explores the emerging research agenda on institutional strength. It disaggregates the concept of institutional strength into two dimensions—enforcement and stability—and it argues that institutions vary widely on both dimensions. The article then examines the sources of this variation and its implications for comparative research. It shows how recent research on weak institutions may be used to refine existing theories of institutional effects, design, and development, which should broaden the comparative scope of these theories. The conclusion examines ways of developing comparative measures of institutional strength

Comparative politics · Comparative research · Economics · Enforcement · Institutional analysis · Institutional change · Institutional theory · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Scope (computer science · Social science · Sociology · Stability (learning theory · Variation (astronomy · Computer Science · Corruption and Economic Development · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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Unique citing works199
Citations per year11,06
Citation span2008 - 2026 (19)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 194
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