Meso-Level Mechanisms and Micro-Level Foundation

Abstract

Abstract: The paper discusses Daniel Little’s argument about meso-level properties and their ex-planatory power it in the light of analytical sociology literature. The difference between causallyrelevant and causally generative properties is outlined. Following critical realism, causal state-ments are of two kinds: claims about the objects and events that produce effects and claimsabout the properties of or facts about these objects and events that are relevant to these effects.I argue that this distinction is in line with analytical sociology for which generative causes mustbe events rather that facts or states, but where social structure is for sure causally relevant forthe explanation. Keywords: Social mechanisms, social structure, causation, explanation, analytical sociology. Filippo Barbera is associate professor of economic sociology at the University of Torino and affiliate atthe Collegio Carlo Alberto (Moncalieri). His recent publications include: F. Barbera and S. Audifredi, “InPursuit of Quality. The Institutional Change of Wine Production Market in Piedmont.”