This fifth edition of BIGSASworks! presents studies on institutions and social change processes from political science, sociology and anthropology perspectives. The authors highlight the various ways in which institutions create opportunities for change but at the same time resist change by acting as structures of stability.

The papers show that the notion of institution within the development debate should be understood from a broader perspective beyond the narrow confines of state bureaucracies to a wider conception that includes the family, marriage and indigenous institutional arrangements through which individuals organize their daily activities.