Structuration Theory
From Geography
StanCrienen (Talk | contribs) (Structuration Theory, Duality of structure, Structure, Agency) |
StanCrienen (Talk | contribs) (→References) |
||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
| - | + | ==References== | |
* Dyck, I. Kearns, R.A. (2006) Structuration Theory: Agency, Structure and Everyday Life. | * Dyck, I. Kearns, R.A. (2006) Structuration Theory: Agency, Structure and Everyday Life. | ||
Revision as of 15:20, 25 October 2011
Contents |
Structuration Theory
Structuration Theory was developed by Anthony Giddens. This theory has become extensive and commonplace in post-positivist social sciences (Warf, 2011). He tries to bridge between theories that focus mainly on human agency (for instance Humanism) and theories that focus on structure (for instance Marxism). This is what is called the ‘Third Way’, which represents a pragmatic renewal of progressive social democracy that seeks to avoid the manifest failures of Marxism and the excesses of neo-liberalism (Warf, 2011). It examines the complex relationship between human agency and the constraints of structure.
Giddens structuration theory essentially views society as neither existing independently of human activity nor being a product of it (Dyck & Kearns, 2006) in Aitken, S. & Valentine G, 2010).
Culture, in structuration theory, is being portrayed as what people take for granted. Culture defines what is normal and what is not, what is important and what is not. What is acceptable and what is not, within each social context. Social structures, regarding culture, in structuration theory are seen to consist of the rules and resources that are instantiated in social systems (Warf, 2011)
Key concepts
Duality of structure
The duality of structure is a key concept. Neither the human agent nor society is regarded as being more important. Structure enables but also constraints. Structration theory dismantles the schism between micro and macro approaches, rather these two dimensions of human life must be seen as mutually complementary.
Structure
In Giddens’ theory, structure exists only through human practise, when the structure is ‘presenced’ by actors. Structure is regarded as the ‘rules and resources’ which actors draw upon. These rules are however not static. They can be changed by the negotiable character of meaning.
Agency
In Giddens understanding, the individual has a choice and he or she could have acted differently. In this Giddens refers to Weber, with his individual conscious acts. The possibility to change something through our acts, to reach a certain goal. But in order to do so we need structures.
References
- Dyck, I. Kearns, R.A. (2006) Structuration Theory: Agency, Structure and Everyday Life.
Chapter 7, in Stuart Aitken & Gill Valentine; Approaches to Human Geography, 2010.
- Warf, B. (2011) Anthony Giddens. Chapter 23, in Phil Hubbard & Rob Kitchen; Key Thinkers on Space and Place, 2011.
- Werlen, B. (2009) Structurationist Geography. In Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany. Elsevier, 2009, p 51.
Contributors
- Published by Pieter-Jan Schut (s4167015) and Stan Crienen --StanCrienen 17:19, 25 October 2011 (CEST)
