The Organizations and Institutions specialization examines the evolution and contemporary structure of organizations and the institutional systems (e.g. economy, polity, law, education, kinship, religion, etc.) in which they are embedded. Theories of organizations and institutions are explored as are empirical regularities in organizations and particular institutional systems. Special emphasis is placed on the evolutionary history and dynamics of institutional systems during long-term societal development as well as the interaction among institutional systems and the organizations within them.