What are examples of historical institutions? What do histor

What are examples of historical institutions? What do historical institutions explain?

Britain 1688

What do historical institutions explain?

Importance of History in Social Science

• economic problems - established set of rights as well as credible commitment
• "set of rules" led to ruler's decreased ability to renege --> constitutions
• free markets - economic restraints, private rights
• role of the parliament

• "stories" and "observations" acquired by historians used for background narratives
• regardless historians are not sources of facts, sole interpretation of materials
• selection bias problems
• comparative history models: contrast of context

Restriction/Coercion/Monitoring

• prevention from rulers to use arbitrary violence, when pursuing personal goals
• coercion into the same laws and practices, equal for all
• monitoring of governments' activities, ensuring compliance, veto powers
• restrictions on possible opportunistic behavior of political actors
• parliaments act as active control

Bargaining

• self-enforcing constitutions beneficial for the most people
• no incentives for reneging

Representation (as a right, not an obligation)

• prosecutors, ensuring justice, independence of judiciaries
• delegation to independent authorities
• constitutional separation of powers
• consent of the governed (voting rights)

Britain 1715

• policy promises
• delegation to independent authorities
• opportunism
• partisan preferences (who is in power?)

What do historical institutions explain?

France, Britain, Italy and Spain

Western Europe

• "No taxation without representation."
• Weaker bargaining position in Britain forced them to concessions the French did not have to make
• France: social groups had enough autonomy to bargain on taxation, ruler's demands were resisted and representation never became the organizing principle of governance throughout the territory.
• resource holders are the most powerful
• patronage

Economic Resources

• credible commitment, collective action
• credible punishment, possibility of removing powers
• smaller possibility of reneging

State weakness

• addressed via taxation (no taxation without representation)
• state had to make more concessions

• Mandate of Heaven
• procurators
• social groups demanding rights in return for participation in warfare
• representation --> urbanization
• "What touches all should be considered and approved by all."
• extended voting rights
• redistribution