Structure, agency and historical institutionalism

Hall and Taylor must be lauded for their challenging and detailed analysis of the many facets of the new institutionalisms although their assertion that there is a common ground between rational choice and historical institutionalism is not entirely valid. These two variables have many totally opposite views on social ideas and concept of knowledge. Institutionalism has to be finetuned before it can be able to dialogue with rational choice. It can do so if the relationship between structure and agency is more carefully defined.