Realist social theory : the morphogenetic approach
TL;DR: The Morphogenetic Cycle: the basis of the morphogenetic approach 7. Structural and cultural conditioning 8. The morphogenesis of agency 9. Social elaboration.
Abstract: Building on her seminal contribution to social theory in Culture and Agency, in this 1995 book Margaret Archer develops her morphogenetic approach, applying it to the problem of structure and agency. Since structure and agency constitute different levels of stratified social reality, each possesses distinctive emergent properties which are real and causally efficacious but irreducible to one another. The problem, therefore, is shown to be how to link the two rather than conflate them, as has been common theoretical practice. Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach not only rejects methodological individualism and holism, but argues that the debate between them has been replaced by a new one, between elisionary theorising and emergentist theories based on a realist ontology of the social world. The morphogenetic approach is the sociological complement of transcendental realism, and together they provide a basis for non-conflationary theorizing which is also of direct utility to the practising social analyst.
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TL;DR: This paper pointed out that the concept of culture seemed to be sliding inexorably into a superficial explanatory pool that promised everything and nothing, and pointed out the need for a deeper explanation of culture.
Abstract: As Allaire and Firsirotu (1984) pointed out over a decade ago, the concept of culture seemed to be sliding inexorably into a superficial explanatory pool that promised everything and nothing. Howev...
68Â citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a conceptual model of formality and informality in a three-dimensional framework that highlights an organizational infrastructure dimension, a view of firms operating along a continuum, and a multi-level analytical context.
Abstract: Despite its connotations of non-compliance, illegality, social exploitation and marginality, the informal sector is a substantial contributor to economic life in developing countries and, increasingly, in more technologically advanced activities. Its prevalence in developed economies has also become more widely recognized. In light of its significance, this paper reviews research on the informal sector from a management and organization scholarship perspective, rather than from an entrepreneurship view, as has been the focus until now. It sets out the atypical management practices that are inherent in the sector, explores the under-researched relationship between formal and informal firms, and highlights definitional, conceptual and other limitations in extant research. As a step in resolving these issues, the authors present a conceptual model of formality and informality in a three-dimensional framework that highlights an organizational infrastructure dimension, a view of firms operating along a continuum, and a multi-level analytical context. Building on this, the authors detail opportunities for enhanced appreciation of in situ management and organizational practices in the informal sector and outline tools for pursuing a management and organization scholarship agenda. Overall, the authors argue that management scholarship has great potential to improve understanding of the informal sector, and that the informal sector provides opportunities to advance management theory, research and practice.
68Â citations
TL;DR: The Glossary demonstrates how the broad literature on power in policy deepens understanding of the institutional dynamics that creates and maintains health inequities.
Abstract: Progressing public policies that improve health equity requires understanding and addressing the creation, use and distribution of power. This glossary provides an overview of some of the most relevant conceptualisations of the dynamics of power in policy with implications for health equity. The aim is to provide an accessible overview of the different theories and perspectives behind power for public health focused policy researchers and advocates. The Glossary demonstrates how the broad literature on power in policy deepens understanding of the institutional dynamics that creates and maintains health inequities.
67Â citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors outline how macrosocial epidemiology can advance in two critical ways: (1) engaging scientific realism, and (2) incorporating social conflict, and make the case to incorporate a social conflict paradigm into macro-social epidemiology.
Abstract: The advancement of theory and research on macrosocial determinants of health has been identified as a promising path for future social epidemiology. In this commentary, we outline how macrosocial epidemiology can advance in two critical ways: (1) engaging scientific realism, and (2) incorporating social conflict. The first describes how scientific realism can be effectively applied within macrosocial epidemiology to identify the specific contexts in which social mechanisms are triggered, which in turn, generate health outcomes. Engaging scientific realism fosters a deeper understanding on how and why macrosocial factors, processes, and institutions are causally linked to population health. The second makes the case to incorporate a social conflict paradigm into macrosocial epidemiology. Thinking in terms of social conflict allows us to view social structures as inequality-generating mechanisms, and re-orients our public health efforts toward social change, including for example, taking action on unequal political, economic, and cultural relations.
67Â citations
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: This chapter shows how the morphogenetic approach underlies a variety of different explanations of social change and how those sociological approaches that eschew the Morphogenesis approach consequently fail to account effectively for social change.
Abstract: As a prelude to the rest of the book, this chapter examines what morphogenesis has so far meant in sociological theory. So far, morphogenesis has been explained as a meta-theoretical rather than a theoretical concept. As such, morphogenesis does not directly explain anything. Instead, it constitutes the ineluctable framework for any theoretically effective explanation of social change. Accordingly, this chapter shows (i) how the morphogenetic approach underlies a variety of different explanations of social change and (ii) how those sociological approaches that eschew the morphogenetic approach consequently fail to account effectively for social change. The chapter ends with some questions as Archer now speculates about morphogenesis as not just a meta-theoretical concept but as also a specific societal category at the level of theory.
67Â citations