[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# A theory of political divergence and gradual institutional change

Yang, 2026, American Journal of Political Science — Political Science

Patterns: [Systems](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/systems), [Relationships](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/relationships)

## In short

Institutions and social structures are modeled as a system whose long-run trajectory is produced by shifting relationships (coalitions) among its parts (rulers, elites, commoners), so small differences in those relationships compound into large structural divergence.

## What they found (results)

A formal model in which rulers, elites, and commoners form shifting strategic coalitions shows that small variations in accumulated redistributive choices produce divergent long-run institutional paths, a claim substantiated with historical cases from medieval Europe, imperial China, and the medieval Muslim world.

These researchers were not testing DSRP. The finding is theirs; the correspondence to DSRP is drawn by this site.

[Source](https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.70084)