THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

2 Theoretical Considerations
2.1 Institutions and institutionalism
Institutions and institutionalism are central to contemporary debates across the social
sciences. So too are concepts such as actors, action and agency. In order to understand how
local perceptions shape peoples’ thinking regarding their local environment, or more precisely
local understanding of biodiversity, entails the use of institutional theory in unraveling this
interplay. There is widespread agreement that understanding institutional interplay constitutes
a key challenge for institutionalists and action theories of all types.
This chapter is intended to guide our study through the key debates and contemporary
interpretations regarding the relationship between institutions, resource actors, and the role of
institutions and institutionalism in addressing the governance of resource users, especially in
instances where resources are held in common. The first section of the chapter will compare
the major contending schools of thought in the realm of “new” institutionalism which has
emerged in recent years. Specifically, we shall deal with the rational choice institutionalism,
sociological institutionalism as well as historical institutionalism. In this evaluation we shall
look at their methodological orientations and empirical weaknesses.
The second part of the section shifts the focus from institutions to actors in resource regimes
to find out which branches of institutionalism will be of utmost importance in helping us to
understand the existing perceptions and perspectives in the realm of notion construction in
Kakamega district. The aim here is to explore the theoretical basis for understanding reflexive
practices, of varied actors in society (including individuals, organizations, or groups) in the
use of a natural resource common like Kakamega forest. The analysis will aid our
appreciation of the historical and sociological foundations of their habits, routines, and
strategies in the light of the social and biological interaction.
2.2 Institutions defined
Institutions are simply rules, and as such make the foundation of politics, organization and
ultimately society. Institutions can be divided into formal and informal. Formal institutions
take the form of the national constitutions, statutes, laws, policies, regulations, zoning
ordinances, and permit decisions. Informal institutions are those relating to the cultural,
traditional and other societal norms. 108 Institutions form the basis of contemporary world
order and without them; there would be no organization at all. This study will look at
institutions as mediators of people-environmental relations, hence seeing institutions as
regularized patterns of behaviour between individuals and groups in society, rather than as
community level organizations. 109
108
Norgard, R. B. 1981. Social Systems and Ecosystem Evolution in the Amazon, Journal of Environmental
Economics and Management 3: 238-254.
109
Ostrom, V, D. Feeny and H. Picht. eds. 1988. Rethinking Institutional Analysis and Development: Issues ,
Alternatives and Choice.Sani Francisco, C.A: The Institute for contemporary Studies.
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