Abstract

Despite harsh debates and misunderstandings, macro and micro level explanatory accounts have a number of way to reach a better theoretical integration. In this paper, we comment on the debate between Jepperson and Meyer vs. Felin, Foss and Abell, to illustrate how macro and micro-level explanations deal with the same set of analytical dimensions (networks, institutions, positions, meanings) and fundamental mechanisms (matching, self-selection, individual and collective action). To integrate seemingly opposite theoretical postures, we maintain, partisans of macro-level accounts must deal with the syntactical dimension of social explanation, while micro-level advocates must consider topics such as social identity and the comparability of actions.