Rediscovering Greek Institutions: New Institutionalist Approaches to Ancient Greek History
By (Author) Matteo Barbato
Edited by Mirko Canevaro
Edited by Alberto Esu
Edinburgh University Press
Edinburgh University Press
10th March 2026
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Ancient history
Hardback
336
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
Rediscovering Greek Institutions offers a fresh perspective on the study of ancient Greek institutions by integrating New Institutionalism-inspired approaches from political science. While traditional scholarship has often focused on constitutional design, formal rules and legal procedures, a shift in recent decades towards sociological and anthropological approaches has overlooked the importance of institutional analysis. This volume bridges this gap, spearheading a new approach which not only considers formal rules and procedures but also the social, ideological, and behavioural factors underpinning institutions. Its wide-ranging chapters demonstrate how a more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of institutions can shed light on the complex political and social life of the Greek polis. Through an interdisciplinary approach to ancient Greek politics which engages with political science, this book redefines institutional analysis as a powerful tool for understanding the diverse motivations behind individual and collective actions in ancient Greece.