Agency in historical institutionalism: Coalitional work in the creation, maintenance, and change of institutions

Abstract Institutionalism gives priority to structure over agency. Yet institutions have never developed and operated without the intervention of interested groups. This paper develops a conceptual framework for role agency in historical institutionalism. Based on recent contributions following coalitional turn drawing insights from sociological institutionalism, it argues that plays key creation maintenance social coalitions stabilize but also challenge institutions. Without such agency, no coalition can be created, maintained, or changed. Similarly, supporting coalition, contested institution survive. Yet, due collective action problems, work is challenging. perspective offers robust explains why remain stable despite In addition, this forwards several portable propositions allow identification who likely develop what these actors do.