Abstract
Social science in general and political science in particular have been resistant to the mobilization of evolutionary and specifically Darwinian ideas for analytic and explanatory purposes. This paper documents a disconnect between political scientists and standard evolutionary theory. Historical institutionalism is identified as a subfield particularly well-suited, but presently ill-equipped, to benefit from evolutionary thinking. Key concepts in evolutionary theory are then used to interpret work by prominent historical institutionalists, illustrate the under-theorized state of historical institutionalism, and suggest the potential of evolutionary theory to greatly enhance the depth, range, and power of that approach. Illustrations are drawn from studies by a range of researchers, including Gellner, Thelen, Ertman, Gottshalk, Anthony Marx, and Katznelson.
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