The Sociology Of Anthony Giddens Guide

He argues that social structures are both the medium and the outcome of our actions. For example, when you speak English, you are following the rules of the language (structure), but your act of speaking is what keeps the language alive and evolving (agency).

In the past, people followed tradition. Today, we are constantly reflecting on and adjusting our behavior based on new information. Even our self-identity is a "reflexive project" we work on daily. The Sociology of Anthony Giddens

Modernity "lifts" social relations out of local contexts. For instance, online banking allows you to interact with a system across the globe without ever meeting a person face-to-face. He argues that social structures are both the