NALAR Ep. 71. MENGENAL TEORI STRUKTURASI - ANTHONY GIDDENS (1/2)

Summary

This script delves into the concept of social practices amidst the pandemic, illustrating how habits like handwashing and social distancing are part of a broader spectrum of societal norms. It introduces Anthony Giddens' Structuration Theory, emphasizing the duality of agency and structure in social practices that unfold over time and space. The theory posits that social structures are both the outcome and medium of recurring social practices, highlighting the integral role of time and space in societal organization. The script also explores three main structures: signification, domination, and legitimation, and their interplay in various social practices, offering a nuanced understanding of how society operates beyond mere constraints, towards an enabling framework for action.

Takeaways

• 🧼 Social practices during a pandemic include habits like hand washing, social distancing, and wearing masks.
• 🌐 Social practices can range from everyday actions such as addressing a village head as 'lurah' to complex behaviors like corruption and demonstrations against regimes.
• 📚 The script introduces the concept of 'structuration theory' by Anthony Giddens, a modern British sociologist and philosopher.
• 🔍 Dualism in social sciences is highlighted, showing the tension between subjectivism and objectivism, voluntarism and determinism.
• 🤔 The script challenges the reader to consider the relationship between social phenomena and individual actions, asking whether the problem lies with individuals or with the system.
• 🌟 The main subject of social science is not roles, hidden codes, or unique situations, but the 'recurring and patterned social practices across time and space'.
• 🔑 Agency and structure are distinct but interdependent concepts; agency refers to the concrete actions of individuals, while structure refers to the rules and resources formed from social practices.
• 🕒 Time and space are integral to social practices, not just as a setting for actions but as constitutive elements of social organization.
• 🌐 Structuration theory emphasizes that the form of society is not based on different modes of production but on how societies organize the relationship between time and space.
• 🏛 The script identifies three main structures: signification (language and symbols), domination (political and economic control), and legitimation (normative regulations).
• 🔄 The dual nature of structure and agency is evident in social practices, where structures enable and constrain actions, and actions, in turn, reproduce and transform structures.

Q & A

What is the definition of 'social practice' as discussed in the script?

Social practice, as discussed in the script, refers to the regular and patterned ways in which individuals act within society, including habits like hand washing during a pandemic, addressing a village head as 'lurah', or even larger societal actions like demonstrations to overthrow a regime.

What is the concept of 'dualism' in the context of social sciences?

Dualism in social sciences is the tension between dichotomies such as subjectivism and objectivism, and voluntarism and determinism. It represents the balance between focusing on individual actions and experiences versus the overall phenomena.

What does 'subjectivism' and 'voluntarism' emphasize in the context of social practices?

Subjectivism and voluntarism are perspectives that prioritize individual actions and experiences over the overall patterns or structures in society.

How does the script differentiate between 'agency' and 'structure'?

Agency refers to the concrete individuals acting within a continuous flow of actions and events, while structure is the set of rules and resources formed from and shaping the residue of social practices.

What is the significance of time and space in social practices according to the script?

Time and space are not just the settings for actions; they are integral to the action itself and the organization of society, constituting social practices and their organization.

Can you explain the term 'structuration theory' mentioned in the script?

Structuration theory, proposed by Anthony Giddens, is a social theory that emphasizes the recursive nature of social practices and the duality of structure and agency, where structures are both the medium and outcome of social practices occurring over time and space.

What are the three dimensions of structure in structuration theory?

The three dimensions of structure in structuration theory are signification (sign systems), domination (power over people and things), and legitimation (normative rules).

How does the script relate the concept of 'duality' to the relationship between 'agency' and 'structure'?

The script describes the duality as a relationship where actions and social practices are enabled by and also shape the structure, which in turn influences future actions, creating a recursive loop.

What is the implication of structuration theory for understanding the differences between different forms of society?

Structuration theory suggests that the differences between societies are not based on their modes of production, but rather on how each society organizes the relationship between time and space.

How does the script illustrate the concept of 'duality' in everyday social practices?

The script uses examples such as addressing a village head as 'lurah', checking babies at a health clinic, wearing masks during a pandemic, and even political practices in rural areas to illustrate how the duality of structure and agency is present in everyday social practices.

What is the role of 'signification' in structuration theory?

In structuration theory, signification is the dimension of structure that involves symbolic schemes, naming, and discourse, which are essential for communication and the interpretation of social practices.