{"product_id":"central-problems-in-social-theory-anthony-giddens-9780520039759","title":"Central Problems in Social Theory: Action, Structure, and Contradiction in Social Analysis","description":"In this new and brilliantly organized book of essays, Anthony Giddens discusses three main theoretical traditions in social science that cut across the division between Marxist and non-Marxist sociology: interpretive sociology, functionalism, and structuralism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeginning with a critical examination of the importance of structuralism for contemporary sociology, the author develops a comprehensive account of what he calls \"the theory of structuration.\" One of the main themes is that social theory must recognize, as it has not done hitherto, that all social actors are knowledgeable about the social systems they produce and reproduce in their conduct. In order to grasp the significance of this, he argues, we have to reconsider some of the most basic concepts in sociology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn particular, Giddens argues, it is essential to recognize the significance of time-space relations in social theory. He rejects the distinction between synchrony and diachrony, or statics and dynamics, involved in both structuralism and functionalism, and offers extensive critical commentary on the latter as an approach to sociology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book, which can be described as a \"non-functionalist manifesto,\" breaks with the three main theoretical traditions in the social sciences today while retaining the significant contributions each contains. In so doing Giddens discusses a range of fundamental problem areas in the social sciences: power and domination, conflict and contradiction, and social transformation. He concludes with an overall appraisal of the key problems in social theory today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Anthony Giddens\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0520039750\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780520039759\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of California Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/29\/1979\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 294\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.74lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.23h x 5.46w x 0.83d","brand":"Anthony Giddens","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43994862092543,"sku":"9780520039759","price":30.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_ed15143b-67ef-470f-82f0-3694b23605be.jpg?v=1683332604","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/central-problems-in-social-theory-anthony-giddens-9780520039759","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}