Research Article

The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms

Volume: 6 Number: 1 May 31, 2026
TR EN

The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms

Abstract

This study examines why good governance reforms that have become widespread in public administration tend to emerge in largely similar forms across different countries and contexts, from the perspective of institutional isomorphism. The main objective of the study is to analyze whether good governance reforms are adopted primarily to enhance technical efficiency or rather to generate legitimacy. The research employs DiMaggio and Powell’s mechanisms of coercive, mimetic, and normative isomorphism as its analytical framework. Methodologically, a comparative qualitative research design is adopted. Policy documents and official reports on good governance reforms in European Union member states and candidate countries are analyzed through document analysis. The findings reveal that good governance reforms have largely diffused through coercive and normative isomorphic mechanisms, and that despite a high degree of similarity in reform content, there are significant differences in implementation outcomes. The study argues that, rather than leading to genuine transformation in public administration, good governance reforms often function as instruments of symbolic conformity and legitimacy production.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No external funding was received for this research.

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human or animal participants. All procedures were conducted in accordance with scientific and ethical principles, and all cited studies have been properly referenced.

Thanks

The authors wish to acknowledge no individuals or institutions.

References

  1. Addink, H. (2019). Good governance: Concept and context. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198841159.001.0001
  2. Aktan, C. C. (2015). İdeal devlet ve iyi yönetim: Temel ilkeler, kurallar ve kurumlar. Hukuk ve İktisat Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7(1), 50-60. https://izlik.org/JA28LL65JZ
  3. Aktan, C. C., & Çoban, H. (2006). Kamu sektöründe iyi yönetimin ilkeleri. In C. C. Aktan (Ed.), Kamu mali yönetiminde stratejik planlama ve performans esaslı bütçeleme (pp. 13–43). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
  4. DiMaggio, P., & Powell, W. (1983). Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095101
  5. European Commission. (2025). Commission staff working document: Türkiye report – 2025 communication on EU enlargement policy (SWD (2025) 756 final). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025SC0756
  6. Fındık, M., & Bedük, A. (2014). Organizational isomorphism in the context of institutional theory. International Journal of Social and Economic Sciences, 4(1), 27-33. https://www.ijses.org/index.php/ijses/article/view/123
  7. Haveman, H. A. (1993). Follow the leader: Mimetic isomorphism and entry into new markets. Administrative Science Quarterly, 38(4), 593–627. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393338
  8. Jorge, S., Nogueira, S. P., & Ribeiro, N. (2020). The institutionalization of public sector accounting reforms: The role of pilot entities. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 33(2), 114–137. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-08-2019-0125

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Public Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 31, 2026

Submission Date

February 20, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 1

APA
Huseynov, T., & Eken, M. (2026). The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences, 6(1), 11-17. https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW
AMA
1.Huseynov T, Eken M. The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences. 2026;6(1):11-17. https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW
Chicago
Huseynov, Talut, and Musa Eken. 2026. “The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms”. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences 6 (1): 11-17. https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW.
EndNote
Huseynov T, Eken M (May 1, 2026) The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences 6 1 11–17.
IEEE
[1]T. Huseynov and M. Eken, “The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms”, Studies in Economics and Political Sciences, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 11–17, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW
ISNAD
Huseynov, Talut - Eken, Musa. “The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms”. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences 6/1 (May 1, 2026): 11-17. https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW.
JAMA
1.Huseynov T, Eken M. The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences. 2026;6:11–17.
MLA
Huseynov, Talut, and Musa Eken. “The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms”. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences, vol. 6, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 11-17, https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW.
Vancouver
1.Talut Huseynov, Musa Eken. The Logic of Isomorphism in Public Administration: An Institutional Perspective on Good Governance Reforms. Studies in Economics and Political Sciences [Internet]. 2026 May 1;6(1):11-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA32WY59WW