Anthony Giddens and Modern Social Theory

by Kenneth Tucker

Overview

Anthony Giddens is widely recognized as one of the most important sociologists of the post-war period. This is the first full-length work to examine Giddens' social theory. It guides the reader through Giddens' early attempt to overcome the duality of structure and agency. He saw this duality as a major failing of social theories of modernity. His attempt to resolve the problem can be regarded as the key to the development of his brandmark ‘structuration theory'.

The book is the most complete and thorough assessment of Giddens' work currently available. It incorporates insights from many different perspectives into his theory of structuration, his work on the formation of cultural identities and the fate of the nation-state. This fa

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803975514
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	01/27/1999
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction
PART ONE: THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL THEORY
The Legacy of Classical Sociological Theory
New Rules of Sociological Method
Positivism, Interpretive Sociology and Structuration Theory
Structuration Theory
Reconceptualizing Agency and Structure
PART TWO: SOCIAL CHANGE AND MODERNITY
The State, Capitalism and Social Change
The Culture of Modernity
From the Critique of Postmodernism to the Rise of the New Social Movements
The Problems and Possibilities of a Democratic Public Life in Late Modern Societies
Feminism, Sexuality and Self-Identity
Conclusion