America before 1787: A Review Article

Abstract America before 1787: The Unraveling of a Colonial Regime, is the second volume in Jon Elster's trilogy analyzing the processes leading up to the American (1787) and French constitutions (1791). This article explores the toolbox the book provides for social scientists. Based on a study of the American case, the book examines the mental tendencies, mechanisms, and strategies useful for investigating other cases, such as interstate relations within federations or collective mobilization. Among the book's many themes, this article focuses on the tension between freedom of choice, fear, and constraint and the mechanisms by which such tension can be analyzed. Generally speaking, the book reflects a desire to unite history and psychology and is characterized by an original epistemology in the field of contemporary social sciences that cautions social scientists against the temptation to see intentions and strategies where there are none and to formulate predictions despite the indeterminate nature of social behavior. Additionally, in line with Elster's earlier work, the book emphasizes the role of emotions in beliefs and choices and offers tools for examining emotions.