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Journal Article•DOI•

Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@@The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration.

Alan Sica, Anthony Giddens
01 May 1986-Contemporary Sociology-Vol. 15, Iss: 3, pp 344
TL;DR: Giddens as mentioned in this paper has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade and 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.
Abstract: 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' 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.
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Posted Content•
Conceptualisation and Aspirations of Transformative Service Research

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Mark S. Rosenbaum1, Canan Corus2, Amy L. Ostrom3, Laurel Anderson3, Raymond P. Fisk4, Andrew S. Gallan5, Mario Giraldo6, Martin Mende7, Mark Mulder8, Steven W. Rayburn4, Kunio Shirahada9, Jerome D. Williams10 •
Northern Illinois University1, Pace University2, Arizona State University3, Texas State University4, DePaul University5, Universidad del Norte, Colombia6, Florida State University7, Pacific Lutheran University8, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology9, Rutgers University10
01 Jan 2011-Social Science Research Network
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that both consumers and the organizations that serve them may benefit from research that examines how services can and do improve or reduce the welfare of individuals, communities, nations, and the global ecosystem.
Abstract: This article conceptualises transformative service research and encourages service researchers to engage in research activities that promote human well-being. The authors advance a new research agenda that, unlike traditional service research, treats outcomes related to consumer well-being, including quality of life issues, as important, managerially relevant, and worthy of study. Both (i) services/service systems that already possess transformational qualities through their inherent design and are intended to enhance well-being (but in actuality may not do so) and (ii) other services/service systems that do not focus on transformational qualities but could enhance or unintentionally hurt well-being are worthy of additional research and study. Although transformative service research may be challenging, we argue that both consumers and the organizations that serve them may benefit from research that examines how services can and do improve or reduce the welfare of individuals, communities, nations, and the global ecosystem.

169 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Zooming out: actor engagement beyond the dyadic

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Matthew Alexander, Elina Jaakkola1, Linda D. Hollebeek2•
University of Turku1, Norwegian School of Economics2
04 Jan 2018-Journal of Service Management
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce a multi-perspective view of actor engagement that develops understanding of multiple engagement contexts, and suggest that balancing multiple roles may result in actor disengagement behavior.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to broaden extant understanding of actor engagement behavior beyond its currently dominant dyadic (micro-level) focus, by examining it from multiple levels of aggregation within a service ecosystem framework.,This conceptual paper draws on service-dominant logic and structuration theory as theoretical lenses to inform engagement research.,By means of a stepwise exercise of “zooming out,” the paper introduces a multi-perspective (micro-, meso-, macro- and meta-level) view of actor engagement that develops understanding of multiple engagement contexts, and suggests that balancing multiple roles may result in actor disengagement behavior. The role of reference groups and role conflict associated with balancing multiple roles is critical to understanding why engaged actor proclivities may wax and wane between contexts.,The paper offers a set of five propositions that can be utilized by engagement scholars undertaking further research in this area.,Firms need to understand the values and norms embedded in diverse engagement contexts which can affect actor groups’ needs and motivations. Firms should develop appropriate organizational mechanisms to facilitate (rather than impede or obstruct) the desired behaviors of engaged actors.,The broader context within which engaged actors operate, and its effects on engagement, has been largely overlooked to date. By broadening the analytical perspective on engagement beyond the dyadic this paper reveals previously unaddressed aspects of this phenomenon, such as the role of disengagement behavior, and the effects of multiple engagement contexts on actors’ future behaviors.

169 citations

Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."

  • ...The observable regularities of social systems – that is, institutions and institutional arrangements – exist only as long as they are re-created through social activity over time (cf. Giddens, 1984; Edvardsson et al., 2011)....

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  • ...…in S-D Logic, Vargo and Lusch (2016) use structuration theory to provide an underlying foundation to examines the creation and reproduction of social systems (Giddens, 1984); that is, routinized, repeated actions that have meaning to those in the in-group (Schau et al., 2009; Akaka et al., 2015)....

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  • ...the creation and reproduction of social systems (Giddens, 1984); that is, routinized, repeated...

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Journal Article•DOI•
Social Media and the Public Sphere

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Christian Fuchs1•
University of Westminster1
19 Feb 2014-tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society
TL;DR: Fuchs as discussed by the authors argues against an idealistic interpretation of Habermas and for a cultural-materialist understanding of the public sphere concept that is grounded in political economy, and argues that the limits of the media and culture grounded in power relations and political economy can only be overcome if the colonisation of the social media lifeworld is countered politically.
Abstract: Social media has become a key term in Media and Communication Studies and public discourse for characterising platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Wordpress, Blogspot, Weibo, Pinterest, Foursquare and Tumblr. This paper discusses the role of the concept of the public sphere for understanding social media critically. It argues against an idealistic interpretation of Habermas and for a cultural-materialist understanding of the public sphere concept that is grounded in political economy. It sets out that Habermas’ original notion should best be understood as a method of immanent critique that critically scrutinises limits of the media and culture grounded in power relations and political economy. The paper introduces a theoretical model of public service media that it uses as foundation for identifying three antagonisms of the contemporary social media sphere in the realms of the economy, the state and civil society. It concludes that these limits can only be overcome if the colonisation of the social media lifeworld is countered politically so that social media and the Internet become public service and commons-based media. Acknowledgement: This paper is the extended version of Christian Fuchs’ inaugural lecture for his professorship of social media at the University of Westminster that he took up on February 1 st , 2013. He gave the lecture on February 19 th , 2014, at the University of Westminster. The video version of the inaugural lecture is available at: https://vimeo.com/97173645

169 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Private Regulation of Food Safety by Supermarkets

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Tetty Havinga1•
Radboud University Nijmegen1
01 Oct 2006-Law & Policy
TL;DR: A case study of food safety regulation by Dutch retailers shows that they can force food industry organizations and producers to accept food safety standards because of their economic (market) power.
Abstract: Food safety is a highly debated issue. Food industry organizations, retailers and national and transnational governments have been trying to find new ways to regulate food safety. Can private regulation of food safety meet the high expectations? A review of existing literature shows some conditions to be important for effectively protecting public interests by private regulation. In particular, retailers worldwide are actively engaged in setting food safety standards for their suppliers. A case study of food safety regulation by Dutch retailers shows that they can force food industry organizations and producers to accept food safety standards because of their economic (market) power.

169 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Mobile Phone Communication: Extending Goffman to Mediated Interaction

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Ruth Rettie1•
Kingston University1
01 Jun 2009-Sociology
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors adapt some of the interactional concepts for synchronous mediated interaction, but argue that his situational focus is less relevant to asynchronous media, and suggest that although the distinction between synchronous and asynchronous interaction is important, it is not technologically determined, but shaped by interactional norms.
Abstract: Mediated interaction has become a feature of everyday life, used routinely to communicate and maintain contacts, yet sociological analysis of mediated communication is relatively undeveloped. This article argues that new mediated communication channels merit detailed sociological analysis, and that interactional differences between media have been overlooked. Goffman explicitly restricted his interaction order to face-to-face interaction.The article adapts some of Goffman's interactional concepts for synchronous mediated interaction, but argues that his situational focus is less relevant to asynchronous media. The theoretical approach developed is illustrated and supported by qualitative research on mobile phones, which fortuitously afford both synchronous and asynchronous communication.The study suggests that although the distinction between synchronous and asynchronous interaction is important, it is not technologically determined, but shaped by interactional norms.

169 citations

Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."

  • ...Shilling (1999: 553) claims that Goffman ‘marginalizes mediated interaction’; Meyrowitz (1985) and Giddens (1984) make similar observations....

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  • ...Shilling (1999: 553) claims that Goffman ‘marginalizes mediated interaction’; Meyrowitz (1985) and Giddens (1984) make similar observations. Notwithstanding his treatment of TV and radio (1981), Goffman often carefully excludes ‘mediated contact’ from his analysis; for instance, listing the telephone, telegraph, and mail as ‘marginal and derived forms of social contact’ (1971: 70–1) and commenting ‘presumably the telephone and the mails provide reduced versions of the primordial real thing’ (1983: 2). Goffman’s rationale (1967: 33) for excluding mediated contact is that ‘direct, personal contacts’ present ‘unique informational conditions’ that make impression management more pertinent. Goffman (1959) distinguishes between expressions given and given off; the latter include subtle gestures and facial expressions....

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  • ...Using Giddens’ (1984) concept of time-space distanciation, one can distinguish asynchronous mediated communication, which involves time-space distanciation, from synchronous mediated communication, which is spatially but not temporally remote....

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  • ...Shilling (1999: 553) claims that Goffman ‘marginalizes mediated interaction’; Meyrowitz (1985) and Giddens (1984) make similar observations. Notwithstanding his treatment of TV and radio (1981), Goffman often carefully excludes ‘mediated contact’ from his analysis; for instance, listing the telephone, telegraph, and mail as ‘marginal and derived forms of social contact’ (1971: 70–1) and commenting ‘presumably the telephone and the mails provide reduced versions of the primordial real thing’ (1983: 2)....

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References
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Book•
Urban social segregation

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Ceri Peach
01 Jan 1975

98 citations

Related Papers (5)
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Review Articles : Central Dilemmas in Giddens's Theory of Structuration

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Review Article : The Theory of Structuration: Prospects and Problems*

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01 Oct 1984-Acta Sociologica
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