In contemporary social theory Anthony Giddens occupies a place all of his own. The very volume of his contribution is difficult to match; less usual still is the range and centrality of topics which, with varying degrees of comprehensiveness, he has addressed. Particularly rare is the ambitious intent of Giddens's theorizing; it has been aimed, right from the start a decade or so ago, at nothing less than a critical reassessment of theoretical lore, leading to the articulation of a new theoretical canon for sociology to come. The non-partisan nature of Giddens's partisanship is unique; and the declared purpose of his effort is to integrate, not to divide, and thus to offer notoriously fissiparous sociological theory the unity it never enjoyed before. Giddens's theory has been to date, and promises to remain, a wide and hospitable river which admits and absorbs pure waters carried by each and every mountain spring as well as drawing on ample subterranean currents. For all these reasons, his theoretical work is a radical departure from purposes and practices of sociological theorizing well-nigh universal in recent years. To a considerable number of present-day sociologists, this work is unprecedented in their collective memory: no wonder it attracts widespread attention and gives rise to great expectations. It also invites close scrutiny.

The really close scrutiny Giddens's work deserves is beyond my ability. Giddens's power of synthesis has few equals, but its products are scattered over a large number of writings which themselves demand a synthesizing effort; many a formulation represents a stage in the development of an as yet incomplete theory, and has been (or is likely to be) superseded at some later stage.