Beyond Microfoundations and Macrofoundations of Institutions

Beyond Microfoundations and Macrofoundations of Institutions challenges the binary distinction that has long constrained institutional scholarship. Transcending the limitations of Coleman's "e;bathtub"e; metaphor, this volume advances a multilevel theory of institutions as dynamic, recursive systems. Rather than privileging micro-action or macro-structure, the contributors view institutions as a continuum where influence flows continuously across levels-from individual cognition to societal logics.Building on previous Research in the Sociology of Organizations volumes, this collection shifts the analytical focus from static "e;boxes"e; to the "e;arrows"e; that connect them. A central theme is that communication and language serve as the critical bridge traversing these levels, enabling meanings to aggregate and disseminate. By integrating these perspectives, this volume offers a framework where constraint and agency coevolve, encouraging scholars to "e;lean into"e; the complexity of cross-level interactions.