Rediscovering Greek Institutions

Showcases the diverse applications of New Institutionalist methodologies to the study of ancient Greek political and legal realities and behaviour

• Illustrates multiple interdisciplinary opportunities for the study of Greek institutional history opened by the New Institutionalisms in political science
• Promotes a renewed, theoretically sophisticated approach to institutional analysis which encompasses social, behavioural, and ideological factors
• Provides a wide-ranging series of case studies for the potential of this approach in studying the institutions and realities of the poleis and the federal states of the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greek world
• Contributes to topical scholarly debates on a number of key themes in ancient Greek history (e.g., polis formation, citizenship, political deliberation, the rule of law) through a New Institutionalist lens

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.