The notion of a critical juncture has become a key idea in social science to capture the interaction of structure and agency in ways that open up new intellectual horizons and free us from outdated frameworks. This volume brings together the leading scholars on the topic and will become the standard reference work.

Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This book consists of wide-ranging essays on “critical junctures,” rapid, discontinuous transformations of societies which leave a historical legacy partially constraining subsequent actions. Most essays are empirical case studies, but there are also theoretical contributions. Several focus on colonialism’s legacies. The essays are intelligent and well-balanced, ably discussing both the utility and the limitations of the model. I recommend it as an important contribution to macro-sociology.

Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles

The essays in this volume do more than explore definitively the implications (and ambiguities) of the concept of “critical junctures.” They highlight a much neglected generic element in scientific political analysis, namely, the crucial importance of temporality—when something happens and, especially, when it happens relative to something else can be much more significant than either the immediate magnitude or direction of what happens.

Philippe C. Schmitter, European University Institute

At last, we have the definitive work on critical junctures. Ranging widely across time, continents and methodological issues, this stellar volume considers and advances the many debates about how political systems change, setting new research agendas for the field. With a wide ambit and a distinguished set of contributors, this book will be indispensable reading for all scholars interested in how politics evolves over time.

Peter Hall, Harvard University

In merging the frameworks of critical junctures with that of historical legacy, this volume provides substantive insights into how we have come to be where we are. A heuristic which allows the scholar to combine structural deterministic accounts with the agency of chance and choice. It represents a much needed alternative to current approaches.

Miguel Centeno, Princeton University

This shrewdly designed and wonderfully executed collection will invigorate the work of historically-oriented social scientists. The concept of critical junctures has a rich tradition, but the editors and their stellar team of authors bring much-needed clarity to the term. Equally important, they demonstrate how it can be effectively deployed to illuminate matters of the greatest significance.

Paul Pierson, UC Berkeley