Garbage Cans, New Institutionalism, and the Study of Politics.

It is, of course, flattering that Bendor, Moe, and Shotts (2001) have found it worthwhile to spend time and energy to critique the garbage can and the new institutionalism. The exercise is even more appealing because they argue that some of the ideas are worth developing and, with a little help, might create "scientific progress." The result, however, is disappointing.

As storytellers, they misrepresent what we have aspired to do and what we have done. As innovators, their substantive contribution is modest. Most important, they point the field in the wrong direction. They ...

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