Neil Fligstein's paper "Social Skill and the Theory of Fields" explores the role of social skill in the construction and reproduction of local social orders. It critiques both rational choice and sociological versions of new institutionalism, arguing that these theories fail to adequately account for the agency of actors. Fligstein proposes a sociological view of action, termed "social skill," which is defined as the ability to induce cooperation among others. This concept is rooted in symbolic interactionism and emphasizes the importance of actors' ability to navigate and influence social interactions. The paper argues that social skill is crucial for understanding how actors contribute to the formation, stability, and transformation of fields. It highlights the importance of social skill in both the emergence of new fields and the reproduction of existing ones. Fligstein suggests that skilled actors can help create new cultural frames and identities that bring disparate groups together, facilitating the formation of new institutions. The paper also critiques the new institutionalist theories for their lack of attention to power dynamics and the role of actors in shaping social structures. It argues that these theories often treat actors as passive recipients of institutional rules, neglecting their active role in creating and maintaining social orders. Fligstein emphasizes the need for a more sociological understanding of action that recognizes the strategic and interpretive abilities of actors. The paper further discusses the importance of social skill in social reproduction, where skilled actors work to maintain their dominance or find opportunities to challenge it. It also addresses the transformation of fields, noting that crises can lead to new forms of strategic action and the reconstitution of existing orders. Fligstein concludes that social skill provides a microfoundation for understanding the complex interactions that shape social structures and the role of actors in these processes.Neil Fligstein's paper "Social Skill and the Theory of Fields" explores the role of social skill in the construction and reproduction of local social orders. It critiques both rational choice and sociological versions of new institutionalism, arguing that these theories fail to adequately account for the agency of actors. Fligstein proposes a sociological view of action, termed "social skill," which is defined as the ability to induce cooperation among others. This concept is rooted in symbolic interactionism and emphasizes the importance of actors' ability to navigate and influence social interactions. The paper argues that social skill is crucial for understanding how actors contribute to the formation, stability, and transformation of fields. It highlights the importance of social skill in both the emergence of new fields and the reproduction of existing ones. Fligstein suggests that skilled actors can help create new cultural frames and identities that bring disparate groups together, facilitating the formation of new institutions. The paper also critiques the new institutionalist theories for their lack of attention to power dynamics and the role of actors in shaping social structures. It argues that these theories often treat actors as passive recipients of institutional rules, neglecting their active role in creating and maintaining social orders. Fligstein emphasizes the need for a more sociological understanding of action that recognizes the strategic and interpretive abilities of actors. The paper further discusses the importance of social skill in social reproduction, where skilled actors work to maintain their dominance or find opportunities to challenge it. It also addresses the transformation of fields, noting that crises can lead to new forms of strategic action and the reconstitution of existing orders. Fligstein concludes that social skill provides a microfoundation for understanding the complex interactions that shape social structures and the role of actors in these processes.