key driver of change. As we show, this perspective stands in contrast to scientific theories
that assume homogeneous characteristics across cases and explain change exogenously.
In order to see if we can gain critical leverage on issues of concern to political
scientists, part II applies this evolutionary framework to two key questions of interest to
political scientists. First, we examine whether an evolutionary framework informs us about
the ultimate source of human preferences. We contend that this framework holds out the
possibility of synthesizing micro-level approaches, rooted in assumptions about “human
nature,” as well as macro-level structural accounts that argue preferences are constrained by
institutions. Secondly, we consider whether evolutionary theory provides added insight to the
study institutional change. In this section we present an analogy likening genes, which are
rules governing cell behavior, to political institutions, which are rules governing political
behavior. We conclude with our observations on the utility of this exercise.
Part I: What is Evolution?
Many social scientists incorrectly assume that there is “a” single theory of evolution.
In fact, there are many theoretical components to evolutionary theory. One should note that
this is not an attempt to offer a complete survey of evolutionary theory. Instead of presenting
a comprehensive summary of evolutionary theories, this section focuses on specific aspects of
evolutionary theory. Our goal is to highlight the most important ideas in evolutionary thought
that may be relevant to the study of institutional and political change.
A Brief Introduction to Evolutionary Theory
Charles Darwin remains the father of modern evolutionary theory. Writing in the mid-
19
th
century, Darwin was one of many biologists interested in explaining the wide variety of
species found on earth. Darwin, like several of his contemporaries, questioned the essentialist
doctrine of Christian theology, which argued that there were a set number of species on earth
and that species had always been fundamentally distinct from one another.
On the
Galapagos, Darwin found many animals, which were very similar to those found elsewhere,
yet also different. His observations on the islands brought him to the revolutionary idea of the
nonconstancy of species.
In other words, rather than seeing life on earth divided into distinct
categories (species), in which all members of a species were alike, Darwin saw phenomenal
variation within species. This insight brought him to the conclusion that evolution was a
3
Convention