Rules

From Geography

Benno Werlen gives two definitions for the therm Rules. In the philosophical tradition, either directives of conduct or regularities of praxis. So a praxis create the rules. From a structurationist point of view, rules are techniques or generalized procedures social actors routinely employ to cope with social situations (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 39). In this view rules have a normative and a constitutive character. So for Anthony Giddens (a structuralist) rules can be a determining factor for human action, but he also say that a agency can make the dissision to do something different then rules describe to him.

Rules play a important role within structures and are in this perspect closely connected to recourses. Structure comprises two aspects: rules and resources. That is to say, the flow of human action is embedded in certain rules and resources that are, at the same time, produced and reproduced by human action. Or, put more accurately: human agency refers to specific semantic and normative rules, as well as to allocative and authoritative resources (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 43).

Rules and processes of of structuration

Actors always interpret social situations in accordance with certain rules of interpretation (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 43). These rules make sure that actors don't make interpertations that are totally different and are acceptable. So rules give the scope for a interpertation. This can be called the normative aspect of structure (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 43). Beside regulation rules are also a constitutive character for social practices. Giddens considers rules as procedures of action. Like rules in a game cause specific kinds of game play strategies, rules in a social world cause specific kind of social practices. Since ruels are both regulative and constitutieve, they are a kind of technique that is applied in the flow of action (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 43).

Reference

Lippuner, R. & Werlen, B. Structuration Theory. Jena: University Jena

Contributence

Edited and created by Pieter van Luijk 22 October 2012