Historical Context and Path Dependence

Abstract

Abstract This article looks into the relevance of the so-called path dependence and historical context in contextual political analysis. It analyzes the different meanings and uses of the concept of path dependence in contemporary academic discourse and uses the array of distinct understandings of path dependence as a means of specifying a number of ways in which historical context matters. It also identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different conceptualizations of path dependence and the trade-offs involved in adopting particular definitions of the concept. It discusses the relevant concepts of reactive sequence, self-reproducing sequences, and historical lock-in.