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Institutional change in a democratic society (completed)

How is modern society constituted? Sociological theory is characterized by a 'top-down' perspective or of individual characteristics. This project will choose an alternative approach, from the bottom up, to describe how large social institutions hang together.

For more information visit the project's Norwegian pages

About the project

Three areas are chosen to focus upon:

  1. Mechanisms and patterns of institutional change
  2. A limited set of institutions
  3. Democracy as constitutive of processes in modern society.

Empirically, the emphasis of the research is on the society of the Scandinavian type. Scandinavian societies have a government that is strong and liberal at a time, making social life differs from the basic features of the international literature. This requires extensive comparative perspectives.

Objectives

The project is divided into three main parts:

Part A clarifies normative theory of democracy and theory of institutional change. A major inspiration for democratic theory is John Rawls' normative theory which addresses specific institutions, such as public organs, employment and welfare. The understanding of institutional change is developed in the light of theories of variations in capitalism and welfare regimes.

Part B goes into the changes in public life. One line points towards to general problems related to freedom of expression and political communication, rationality grounds and standards for political debate. Another points towards effects of new social media, both in mobilizing people to participate in democratic society and in the flow of information in society.

Part C addresses institutional change at work and in the welfare state, and what characterizes Scandinavia, compared with Continental Europe and the Anglo-American world. Typologies that separate these forms are well known, but are predominantly static. The project will better understand the dynamics, and thus what creates stability and change in the Nordic combination of work and welfare.

The project builds on extensive empirical research at all three collaborative institutions.

Cooperation

The project is a collaboration between the Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Institute for Social Research, and Fafo

Funding scheme

The total grant award was for NOK 2 874 000.

Project period

October 2014 - December 2017

Publications

  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Afterword: Institutional Differentiation and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-063407-5. p. 389–400. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-019.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Social Institutions and the Quality of Democracy. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-063407-5. p. 22–47. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-003.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Elite Compromise as a Mode of Institutional Change: The United States and Norway Compared. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-063407-5. p. 363–388. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-018.
  • Teigen, Mari (2018). Can descriptive representation be justified outside politics? . In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-063407-5. p. 193–212. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-010. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (2018). Introduction: Democracy, Institutional Compatibility and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-063407-5. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-002.
  • Enjolras, Bernard & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). The digital transformation of the political public sphere: a sociological perspective. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 99–117. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330. Full text in Research Archive
  • Furseth, Inger (2017). The Return of Religion in the Public Sphere? The Public Role of Nordic Faith Communities. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Strategic Communication and Institutional Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0.
  • Larsen, Håkon (2017). The Public Sphere as an Arena for Legitimation Work: The Case of Cultural Organizations. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 201–219. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-011.
  • Lundby, Knut (2017). Public Religion in Mediatized Transformations. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 241–263. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-013. Full text in Research Archive
  • Segaard, Signe Bock (2017). The Institutional Anchoring of Social Media Venues as Arenas for Local Political Communication. Perceptions by Voters and Politicians. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 118–138. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-007. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon & Rogstad, Jon (2017). The Public Sphere in the Nordic Model. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 46–70. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Introduction: The Public Sphere in Change. Institutional Perspectives on Neo-corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-054633-0. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Teigen, Mari (2015). The Making of Gender Quotas for Corporate Boards in Norway. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 96–117. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-007.
  • Nyen, Torgeir & Tønder, Anna Hagen (2015). Cooperation and Reform in Vocational Education and Training. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 201–218. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-012.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Conflict, Compromise, Cooperation Concluding Reflections. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 282–292. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-016.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Property Rights, Governance, and Power Balances. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 36–55. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-004.
  • Hagelund, Anniken & Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Introduction: Institutional Change in Neo- Corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 1–16. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-002.
  • Hagelund, Anniken & Pedersen, Axel West (2015). To Reform or Not to Reform? Explaining the Coexistence of Successful Pension Reform and Sick Pay Inertia in Norway. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 220–242. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-013.
  • Ellingsæter, Anne Lise (2015). Making, Unmaking and Remaking: The Evolution of Nordic Cash for Childcare Schemes. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 262–280. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-015.
  • Svalund, Jørgen (2015). Cooperation and Power in Labour Adjustment Choices: A Nordic Perspective. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 157–178. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-010.
  • Olberg, Dag (2015). Regulating the temporary layoff institution- coalitions and drift. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISSN 978-3-11-044428-5. p. 136–156. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-009.

View all works in Cristin

  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. ISBN 978-3-11-054633-0. 269 p.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (2015). Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. ISBN 978-3-11-044428-5. 298 p.

View all works in Cristin

  • Vabø, Mia (2017). The dynamic of change in Public service organizations.
  • Hagelund, Anniken (2017). Velferdsstaten i endring.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Demokrati og institusjoner i endring.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Innledning.

View all works in Cristin

Published Nov. 1, 2012 2:05 PM - Last modified Oct. 25, 2019 9:23 AM

Contact

Visiting address

Moltke Moes street 31
Harriet Holters building
2nd floor
 

Postal address

P.O. Box 1096 Blindern
0317 Oslo
Norway

Phone og e-mail

22 85 52 57 (phone)
ekspedisjonen@sosgeo.uio.no

Participants

Detailed list of participants