In this paper I present a critical approach to the new institutional theory, highlighting the internal incoherence of this currently dominant perspective in organizational studies. In the first part of the paper, I narrate a brief historical perspective of the notion "institution" in social studies. I analyze the contribution of the new institutionalism, briefly presenting some important works of the main authors of this perspective. Follows the critical analyses that points out different approaches that characterize the new institutionalism and its incoherence in terms of levels of analyses and paradigmatic commitment. Finally, I argument that the new institutionalism can not be considered as a consolidated "school" in organizational studies, since there are still present crucial features of theoretical divergence, with clear empirical consequences.
new institutional theory; paradigm; institution
