Anthony Giddens Books

The sexual revolution: an evocative term, but what meaning can be given to it today? How did sexuality come into being and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the dominant interpretations of the role of sexuality in modern culture. The emergence of what the author calls plastic sexuality - sexuality freed from its intrinsic relation to reproduction - is analyzed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens further argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, heralds radical changes in the relationship between the sexes.

Capitalism is analyzed in original essays by Paul Volcker, Polly Toynbee and George Soros, among others.

Europe's social model, celebrated for promoting social cohesion and care for the vulnerable, is facing significant challenges, particularly with persistently high unemployment rates across many EU states. This strain has led to widespread dissatisfaction with the European project, exemplified by the rejection of the proposed new constitution. Urgent reform of the social model is necessary, aligning with efforts to stimulate economic growth. Weaker-performing nations can learn from those that have navigated these challenges more effectively. However, more radical changes must be considered in light of globalization, increasing cultural diversity, and shifting demographics. The author advocates for a rethinking of the traditional welfare state, emphasizing the need to integrate lifestyle changes into welfare concepts. Additionally, environmental issues should be linked to citizenship obligations. These innovations must coincide with efforts to enhance Europe's competitive position. This original and groundbreaking work is poised to join the ranks of influential texts that have reshaped social and political thought in recent decades.

In this new and brilliantly original book of essays, Anthony Giddens discusses three main theoretical traditions in social science that cut across the division between Marxist and non-Marxist sociology: interpretive sociology, functionalism, and structuralism.

Social life is in a constant process of change, and sociology can never stand still. As a result, sociology today is a theoretically diverse enterprise, covering a huge range of subjects and drawing on a broad array of research methods. Central to this endeavour is the use of core concepts and ideas which allow sociologists to make sense of societies, though our understanding of these concepts necessarily evolves and changes. This clear and jargon-free book introduces a careful selection of essential concepts that have helped to shape sociology and others that continue to do so. Going beyond brief, dictionary-style definitions, Anthony Giddens and Philip W. Sutton provide an extended discussion of each concept which sets it in historical and theoretical context, explores its main meanings in use, introduces relevant criticisms, and points readers to its ongoing development in contemporary research and theorizing. Organized in ten thematic sections, the book offers a portrait of sociology through its essential concepts, ranging from capitalism, identity and deviance to the digital revolution, the environment and intersectionality. It will be essential reading for all those new to sociology as well as anyone seeking a reliable route map for a rapidly changing world.

The fourth edition features a comprehensive collection of readings that reflect contemporary sociological thought and practice. It has been meticulously revised and updated, making it an engaging resource for those looking to explore the diverse aspects of sociology. This edition aims to stimulate critical thinking and provide a broad understanding of the field, catering to both newcomers and those familiar with sociological concepts.

Sociology provides an introduction to its field. The fourth edition preserves the lucid, lively and comprehensive qualities which marked the book in its earlier versions. Numerous student learning aids are provided.

Anthony Giddens has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade. In The Constitution of Society he outlines the distinctive position he has evolved during that period and offers a full statement of a major new perspective in social thought, a synthesis and elaboration of ideas touched on in previous works but described here for the first time in an integrated and comprehensive form. A particular feature is Giddens's concern to connect abstract problems of theory to an interpretation of the nature of empirical method in the social sciences. In presenting his own ideas, Giddens mounts a critical attack on some of the more orthodox sociological views. The Constitution of Society is an invaluable reference book for all those concerned with the basic issues in contemporary social theory.

In this major theoretical statement, the author offers a new and provocative interpretation of the institutional transformations associated with modernity. We do not as yet, he argues, live in a post--modern world.