Anthony Giddens

Anthony Giddens is a highly respected British sociologist and author. He has made significant contributions to the field of sociology, with his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. Giddens is considered to be one of the most prominent modern sociologists, with at least 34 published books that have been translated into 29 languages. His work has been widely recognized, and in 2007, he was listed as the fifth most-referenced author of books in the humanities.

Giddens' academic career can be divided into three stages. The first stage involved outlining a new vision of sociology, presenting a theoretical and methodological understanding of the field based on a critical reinterpretation of the classics. During this period, he published major works such as 'Capitalism and Modern Social Theory' in 1971 and 'The Class Structure of the Advanced Societies' in 1973.

In the second stage, Giddens developed the theory of structuration, an analysis of agency and structure, in which neither is granted primacy. His works of this period, such as 'New Rules of Sociological Method' in 1976, 'Central Problems in Social Theory' in 1979, and 'The Constitution of Society' in 1984, brought him international fame in the sociological arena.

In the most recent stage of his career, Giddens has focused on modernity, globalization, and politics, particularly the impact of modernity on social and personal life. He has critiqued postmodernity and discussed a new "utopian-realist" third way in politics. His notable works of this period include 'The Consequence of Modernity' in 1990, 'Modernity and Self-Identity' in 1991, 'The Transformation of Intimacy' in 1992, 'Beyond Left and Right' in 1994, and 'The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy' in 1998. Giddens' ambition is to recast social theory and to re-examine our understanding of the development and trajectory of modernity.

Currently, Giddens serves as Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics, where he was also the Director from 1997 to 2003.