Paths are what actors make of them

Abstract

Several institutionalist orientations such as historical institutionalism, especially its earlier versions, tend to treat institutional or policy change as a result of exogenous factors. Some others, on the other hand, emphasize endogenous sources of change. It has, however, already been shown theoretically and empirically that institutions may face both endogenous and/or exogenous triggers in their lifetime. This study suggests that we should get beyond this fruitless debate and focus on the more intriguing question of why some internal or external triggers create major changes while others do not. This study suggests that some external or internal developments are more likely to trigger change than others because they carry with them certain meanings or ideas for change entrepreneurs. This implies that paying more attention to agency would significantly improve the historical institutionalist account of institutional or policy change. These arguments are illustrated by an analysis of recent institutional changes in the area of cultural rights in Turkey, i.e. in the Kurdish issue.