The Oxford Handbook of Historical Institutionalism

Historical institutionalism has deep roots in Political Science and related fields, and crystalized into a distinct research tradition during the ‘new institutionalisms’ debate that began in the late 1980s. It has since established strong footholds in four large subfields of Political Science: comparative, American, European, and international politics. The present volume is the first to take stock of the tradition’s contributions across multiple areas of study, and includes chapters by many of its most prominent practitioners. As the world again grapples with how to understand the short- and long-term consequences of economic crises, revolutions, and new patterns of governance, historical institutionalism is poised to offer valuable insights into how past events and decisions will shape political trajectories at local, national, and international levels.