This autobiographical essay by David Collier traces the evolution of his interest in concept analysis within political science. Sparked by a challenging dissertation defense on the distinction between squatter settlements and slums, Collier was motivated to better understand and refine social science concepts. He reflects on foundational influences, including Sartori’s notion of concepts as “data containers,” and explores how defining and variable properties can structure meaningful comparisons. Collier highlights the role of vivid, resonant terminology in shaping scholarly communication, drawing on examples from Hirschman, Krasner, and Murra. He credits influential mentors such as Philippe Schmitter and colleagues such as Henry Brady, as well as inspiration from the Ostroms and cognitive linguists such as Lakoff and Rosch. The essay underscores the importance of typologies, disaggregation, and sensitivity to conceptual stretching in empirical research, using the concept of corporatism and the idea of “critical junctures” as case illustrations. Collier also recounts his teaching experiences and collaborations, which reinforced his belief in the methodological and substantive value of rigorous concept work. The piece serves as both a personal narrative and a theoretical introduction to the study of concepts, setting the stage for the volume’s broader exploration of conceptual innovation in the social sciences.

This chapter revisits David Collier’s “Trajectory of a Concept,” challenging the view that corporatism has faded as an empirical phenomenon or scholarly framework. Despite major political, economic, and social shifts since the mid twentieth century, the concept of corporatism continues to offer valuable insights into contemporary modes of interest intermediation in Latin America. The chapter makes four central arguments. First, corporatism now operates across a wider range of domains, extending beyond traditional class-based state-society relations. Second, the core features of corporatism – structure, subsidy, and control – persist but have adapted to contexts shaped by neoliberal reforms and democratic governance. Third, scholars have refined the concept in ways that preserve its definitional integrity while making it more applicable to changing empirical realities. Finally, using corporatism to analyze new settings reveals continuity in causal patterns, linking past and present dynamics of interest representation. Rather than being obsolete, corporatism remains a productive concept for understanding how states and organized groups interact in Latin America. This analysis underscores the importance of revisiting conceptual frameworks in light of empirical change and demonstrates that earlier models can retain explanatory power when appropriately updated.