Bibliography: BIB28108

Key	BIB28108
Reference type	Journal Article
Title	Informational Constraint and Focal Point Convergence : Theoretical Implications of Plurality-Rule Elections for the New Institutionalism
Journal	Rationality & Society (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Author	Abizadeh, Arash
Year	2001
Date	Feb. 2001
Issue	1
Volume	13
Abstract	Plurality-rule national Baha'i elections are an anomaly among democratic elections, providing the opportunity for novel insights into institutional theory: while the pool of candidates consists of several thousand individuals, there are tight institutional constraints on information and communication regarding voters' preferences - nominations and campaigning are banned. Contrary to the expectations of received rational choice institutional theory, however, no institutional mechanisms facilitating organizational forms such as parties have arisen to yield Pareto-superior outcomes via explicit vote coordination. To address this anomaly, an analytical constrained-information model of Canadian Baha'i elections with endogenous preference formation is used to develop the notion of focal point convergence, and to defend sociological institutionalism's view of instrumental rationality as socially constructed and only one among several possible cultural meanings that may constitute institutions.
Language	English
Keywords	ELECTIONS; CANADA; ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER; GAMING THEORY; INSTITUTIONS
Pages	99–136
Legal note	11