were cultural, economic, social or political in the aftermath of the conquest? How did
these underlying institutional factors limit or constrain the behaviour of the conquerors in
the changes they tried to introduce? What degree did these underlying factors influence
the trajectory of the society and its institutions in the aftermath of the conquest? In other
words to what degree was future development dependent on previous decisions made by
earlier rulers and societies, on earlier sequences of behaviour and decision making? How
important was the earlier history of the society?
The theory of path dependency has led to the development of a wide literature on the
subject.
Since it is closely connected to the idea of historical trajectories and even to
historical determinism it can sometimes be seen as leading to closed routes particularly
when it comes to an examination of modernization and democratization. A broad and
useful definition of path dependency might begin with a simple statement that decisions
and choices have consequences. Individuals and groups make decisions; in this case
about how they wish to organize their collective lives. Over time these decisions will
need to be revisited and reevaluated. But it is difficult, if not impossible, to go back and
start again from scratch. This is for a number of reasons, including that not everyone will
agree on what needs to be changed and not everyone will agree that the original decision,
even if they can remember what it was, needs to be completely changed. In short all
institutions are limited in making changes because the existing conditions at the time a
change is undertaken limit the choices available to the leaders of the movement for
change. Moreover there is among individuals and societies, inertia about change. It is
easier to talk about it than to actually carry it out. Change when it does come is usually
the result of pressures from within or without than can no longer be ignored. But even
when this type of change does take place it is likely to be constrained by existing forces.
Even most natural disasters do not result in a total and complete shift in the earth’s
environment.
The decision to invade another territory and acquire it for reasons of increasing resources
whether human or material is a unique policy decision. For the society that is invaded
10
For a discussion on path dependency and its literature see Pierson, Politics in Time.
9
Convention