A concept states which elements constitute a phenomenon, not merely what it is called.

Evidence

Concepts are theories about ontology: they are theories about the fundamental constitutive elements of a phenomenon. While many quantitative scholars may find the term “ontological” provocative and many interpretativists may object to my usage, I use the term in a straightforward way to designate the core characteristics of a phe­ nomenon and their interrelationships. For example, we can ask about what constitutes a welfare state. Typically, these are states that provide goods and services like unemployment insurance, medical services, retirement benefits, and the like. To be a welfare state is to provide these goods and services. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts, 33

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines concepts as ontological theories about a phenomenon’s constitutive elements and their interrelations, illustrated with the welfare state.
• QUESTION: If a concept just lists the services a welfare state provides, how do we handle states that provide some but not all — is welfare-stateness graded?
• XREF: Connects to the earlier kept claim about classification systems constituting infrastructures with political consequences: deciding what counts as a ‘welfare state’ is exactly such a classification act.