HC2-structuration theory

Question 1

Structuration theory (agency and structure)

Answer 1

Actions do not exist seperately and independently from social structures and social structures do not exist seperately and independently from acrions.

Not a dualism, but a dualitym, two non-exclusive sides of the same coin. (not two things, but two sides… a ‘two-sidedness (duality)’

Question 2

how giddens diverted from Weber and Durkheim

Answer 2

-action is not equated with individual human activity
-Structure is not identified with external contraint (Durkheim)

Question 3

Agent

Answer 3

Any social agent that is capable of making a differene

Question 4

Agency

Answer 4

the continuous flow of actions and events, which reproduce or change certain aspects or practices.

capability to act, the conduct flow of act, repoducing a structure, while aslo initiate change. agency had the potential to change (could have acter otherwise).

Question 5

structure

Answer 5

rules and resouces, restrictions and possibilities

STRUCTURES ARE STATIC BUT ALSO DYNAMIC, CAN BE REPRODUCED SO IT BECOMES STRONGER.

Question 6

System

Answer 6

The objectification of past actions or collectives, organised as regular social practices.
In this system, practices are structurally linked together, together they make up a whole.

Question 7

Practice

Answer 7

Situated things of doing. Repetitions of eventrs, and actions, in certain circumstances, creating a certain regularity or pattern (=practice) or events and actions, which make up our society and create the dynamics of society.

So what we do and what happens at university is a practice related to the general practice of education in the netherlands and abroad, but also related to our ecomomic practice, cultural practice etc

Question 8

interplay structure and agency

Answer 8

depends on temporal and spatial context

Question 9

Discursive consciousness

Answer 9

legitimation (underpinning by arguments)

implicit in giddens theory, is the ability of the actor to act according to the structure but aslo against the structure. The possibility of critically reflecting. But he does not believe (like Freud) that our unconsciousness determines what we do. At this level the critical reflexion takes place.

Question 10

Practical consciousness

Answer 10

Taken for granted reality (habits, routines)

Question 11

Unconscious

Answer 11

Unackknoledged motivations (drives)

Question 12

the constitution of society

Answer 12

is ontologically based and

SOCIETY IS JUST WHAT WE DO=SOCIETY IS NOT STATIC, ITS OUR ACTIONS THAT SHAPE SOCIETY. OUR DOINGS SHAPE SOCIETY. NO EXTERNAL THING THAT HOLDS US.

Question 13

sports dynamic of giddens

Answer 13

IT IS JUST WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

Question 14

dualism vs duality

Answer 14

STRUCTURE IS LIMITING=DUALISM, STRUCTURATION ALSO ENABLES, SO ASLO AGENCY IS ON THE SAME SIDE ON THE COIN=DUALITY

Question 15

rules

Answer 15

RULES ARE NOT LAWS OR REGULARITIES BUT MORE LIKE SOCIAL RULES

Question 16

difference structuration theory and system theory

Answer 16

DIFFERENCE WITH SYSTEM THEORY: STRUCTURE ONLY EXISTS INSOFAR AS THEY ARE CONTINUALLY RECREATED. NOT AN EXTERNAL UNCRONTOLLABLE THING.