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The mechanism approach calls attention to an intermediary level of analysis, in between pure description and story-telling, on the one hand, and grand theorizing and universal social laws, on the other. These essays, written by prominent social scientists, advance criticisms of current trends in social theory and suggest alternative approaches. For social theory to be of use for the working social scientist, it must attain a high level of precision and provide a toolbox from which middle range theories can be constructed.
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The advancement of social theory requires an analytical approach that systematically seeks to explicate the social mechanisms that generate and explain observed associations between events. These essays, written by prominent social scientists, advance criticisms of current trends in social theory and suggest alternative approaches. The mechanism approach calls attention to an intermediary level of analysis, in between pure description and storytelling, on the one hand, and grand theorizing and universal social laws, on the other. For social theory to be of use for the working social scientists, it must attain a high level of precision and provide a toolbox from which middle-range theories can be constructed. Contributors: Raymond Boudon, Tyler Co wen, Jon Elster, Diego Gambetta, Peter Hedstrom, Gudmund Hernes, Timur Kuran, Thomas C. Schelling, Aage B. S0rensen, Arthur L. Stinchcombe, Richard Swedberg, and Axel van den Berg. SOCIAL MECHANISMS STUDIES IN RATIONALITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE Editors: Jon Elster and Michael S. McPherson Editorial Board: Fredrik Barth Amartya Sen Arthur L. Stinchcombe Bernard Williams Titles in the series: Explaining technical change & AANUND HYLLAND (EDS.) Foundations of social choice theory JON ELSTER (ED.) The multiple self JAMES s. COLEMAN Individual interests and collective action ARTHUR L. STINCHCOMBE Stratification and organization DIEGO GAMBETTA Were they pushed or did they jump? MICHAEL TAYLOR The possibility of cooperation JON ELSTER & RUNE SLAGSTAD (EDS.) Constitutionalism and democracy JON ELSTER The cement of society JON ELSTER & JOHN ROEMER (EDS.) Interpersonal comparisons of well-being KAARE STR0M Minority government and majority rule ADAM PRZEWORSKI Democracy and the market GEORGE AINSLIE Picoeconomics GERALD MARWELL & PAMELA OLIVER The critical mass in collective action JON ELSTER JON ELSTER Edited by Peter Hedstrom and Richard Swedberg Stockholm University SOCIAL MECHANISMS An Analytical Approach to Social Theory CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo Cambridge University Press 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521593199 © Peter Hedstrom & Richard Swedberg 1998 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1998 Reprinted 2004, 2005 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Social mechanisms : an analytical approach to social theory / edited by Peter Hedstrom, Richard Swedberg. p. cm. — (Studies in rationality and social change) Includes index. ISBN 0-521-59319-0. — ISBN 0-521-59687-4 (pbk.) 1. Sociology — Methodology. 2. Social systems. I. Hedstrom, Peter. II. Swedberg, Richard. III. Series. HM24.S54426 1997 301'.01-dc21 97-11413 CIP ISBN-13 978-0-521-59319-9 hardback ISBN-10 0-521-59319-0 hardback ISBN-13 978-0-521-59687-9 paperback ISBN-10 0-521-59687-4 paperback Transferred to digital printing 2006 Cambridge University Press has