BEYOND THE STRUCTURE AGENCY DUALISM - AN EVALUATION OF GIDDENS THEORY OF STRUCTURATION

In this paper an evaluation of Giddens’theory of structuration is focused on two related issues: first, the degree to which Giddens provides a theory of action which transcends the structure/agency dualism and, second, whether such a transcendence is possible. In the first instance, it is demonstrated that Giddens exaggerates the powers of agents at the expense of structural constraints. Second, it is argued that transcendence of structure/agency dualism and the specification of a definitive ontology of action is not possible and that the merit of structuration theory lies in its use as a sensitizing device for empirical research. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved