This article examines Institutional Isomorphism Without Substance: Formal Governance Structures and Informal Power: Towards a Research Agenda with a focused emphasis on Tanzania within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a working paper that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.