ENDING THE FAMILY QUARREL - TOWARD A RECONCILIATION OF OLD AND NEW INSTITUTIONALISMS

Over the past couple of decades, research in organizational sociology has shifted away from the contextual richness of action perspectives t oward more structuralist paradigms. DiMaggio and Powell's distinction between what they label the ''old'' and ''new'' institutionalisms high lights this general trend. The present authors offer a critical review of this generational paradigm debate among institutional theorists an d challenge DiMaggio and Powell's assertion that the new should replac e the old. The present authors advocate a reconciliation between these theoretical currents that would provide a more balanced approach to t he action-structure duality.