Concepts In The Social Sciences: Structuration

How is structuration central to the social sciences? What are the implications of conceptualizing the relation between structure and agency as one of duality or dualism? Why was structuration theory invented and what can replace it? Structuration provides an introduction to this central debate in social theory and helps to explain the historical processes producing the structures that shape human social life. Few would dispute that social reality is produced by creative human agents operating in pre-existing structure and agency are related. John Parker contrasts the views of Bourdieu and Giddens, who uphold duality (identity), with those of the post-structurationists. The context and logic of the duality arguments are examined, but it is suggested that Giddens' structuration theory is outdated, and the emphasis is placed on making accessible the positive s suggestions of the post- structurationist dualists in relation to actual historical cases.