Abstract
In this research, I examine how organized action to sustain a currently dominant
institution is more likely to strengthen alternative institutions and to disrupt the very same
institution. Focusing on a historical case of Korean neo-Confucian scholars from 1682 to
1800 and their private academies, I identify institutions as Confucian ideologies of these
scholars who shaped national policies at the time, and I define an organized action to
sustain an institution as the founding of private academies, called “Seowon” that
disseminated a certain Confucian ideology supporting the institution. Using event count
and network analyses, findings of this study reveal that academy foundings in order to
sustain the currently dominant institution facilitate organized actions maintaining
alternative institutions; 1) the exponential growth of supporters of the current institution
fuels internal competition for resources, and 2) the expansion of membership through
references to iconic figures of the dominant institution increases internal diversity leading
to internal competition as well. This research suggests that organized actions to
deliberately maintain the status quo provide opportunities for potential challengers to
easily attack the extant system. Individuals who are deliberately maintain the current
institution are least likely to achieve their goal. Instead, their action becomes selfdefeating and fuels an institutional change. The findings of this study contribute to
research on institutional change, collective action and institutional work.
institution is more likely to strengthen alternative institutions and to disrupt the very same
institution. Focusing on a historical case of Korean neo-Confucian scholars from 1682 to
1800 and their private academies, I identify institutions as Confucian ideologies of these
scholars who shaped national policies at the time, and I define an organized action to
sustain an institution as the founding of private academies, called “Seowon” that
disseminated a certain Confucian ideology supporting the institution. Using event count
and network analyses, findings of this study reveal that academy foundings in order to
sustain the currently dominant institution facilitate organized actions maintaining
alternative institutions; 1) the exponential growth of supporters of the current institution
fuels internal competition for resources, and 2) the expansion of membership through
references to iconic figures of the dominant institution increases internal diversity leading
to internal competition as well. This research suggests that organized actions to
deliberately maintain the status quo provide opportunities for potential challengers to
easily attack the extant system. Individuals who are deliberately maintain the current
institution are least likely to achieve their goal. Instead, their action becomes selfdefeating and fuels an institutional change. The findings of this study contribute to
research on institutional change, collective action and institutional work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The 107th Annual Meeting of American Sociological Association |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Aug 2012 |
| Event | The 107th Annual Meeting of American Sociological Association - Denver, United States Duration: 17 Aug 2012 → 20 Aug 2012 |
Conference
| Conference | The 107th Annual Meeting of American Sociological Association |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Denver |
| Period | 17/08/12 → 20/08/12 |