Sociology 219:  Institutional Theories:  Cultural and Phenomenological Approaches

Winter 2009

Short Assignment #3:  Research Ideas

Due:  Start of class (9:00am) Monday February 23

Length:  Approx. 2.5 pages, double-spaced.

Answer one of the following questions:

1.  Frank et al. 2000 operationalize ‘national ties to world society’ using measures of membership in international associations (often called INGOs).  Drawing on insights from Meyer et al. 1997 and the Boli & Thomas 1999 chapter, discuss the logic behind this strategy.  In the course of your answer, be sure to explain what INGOs are and how they relate to ‘global culture’.

2.  Develop a research design that tests one of the general predictions of institutional theory articulated in the Meyer 2008 review article (week 6) or the Meyer et al. 1997 paper (week 8).

3.  Contrast institutional scholarship on world society (or the “world polity”) with the notion of cultural imperialism linked to American military/economic hegemony.  How does the conception of culture differ?  How do the mechanisms differ?  How might the empirical predictions differ (or not)?  Try to be specific and give examples.