Anthony Giddens

This book provides an interpretation of one of the key aspects of Max Weber’s work: the relationship between his political and sociological writings. Weber’s sociological studies have often been treated as if they were completely separate from his political attitudes and interests, and in general his political writings have remained less well-known than his sociological work. The book contains three main sections. The first of these analyses the principal concerns underlying Weber’s political assessment of the prospective development of post-Bismarckian Germany. The second examines some of the way in which these views channelled his interests in sociology and influences his studies of capitalism, authority and religion. Finally, the third main section ‘reverses’ this perspective, showing how his conceptions of sociology and social philosophy in turn influenced the evolution of his assessment of German politics.

"A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."—Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Since it first appeared, this book has achieved a classic status. Reprinted many times since its publication, it remains the only work that looks in detail at the political issues posed by global warming. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and provides a state-of-the-art discussion of the most formidable challenge humanity faces this century. If climate change goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a back-of-the-mind issue. We recognize its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Political action and intervention on local, national and international levels are going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. However, at the moment, argues Giddens, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.

"A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."—Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Since it first appeared, this book has achieved a classic status. Reprinted many times since its publication, it remains the only work that looks in detail at the political issues posed by global warming. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and provides a state-of-the-art discussion of the most formidable challenge humanity faces this century. If climate change goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a back-of-the-mind issue. We recognize its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Political action and intervention on local, national and international levels are going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. However, at the moment, argues Giddens, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.

"er man interesseret i (europæisk) politik, er der al mulig grund til at læse Europa i globaliseringens tidsalder." Annegrethe Rasmussen, Information De europæiske lande er – med rette – stolte af deres sociale systemer, der sikrer sammenhængskraft og holder hånden under de svageste. Men Europas velfærdsstater er under pres i disse år, og frygten for social dumping har ført til en udbredt skepsis over for det europæiske projekt – senest og mest markant med Frankrigs og Hollands nej til den nye forfatningstraktat. I Europa i globaliseringens tidsalder argumenterer Anthony Giddens for, at de europæiske staters velfærdsmodeller skal reformeres og udvikles. England og de skandinaviske lande har vist vejen med hensyn til økonomisk vækst og nedbringelsen af arbejdsløsheden. Men der er stadig langt igen når det gælder håndteringen de udfordringer, som globalisering, indvandring, livsstilssygdomme, trafik- og miljøproblemer og en aldrende befolkning fører med sig. Forandringerne er en forudsætning for fortsat social retfærdighed, og hvis tilliden til det europæiske projekt ikke skal smuldre, skal Unionen demonstrere handlekraft og sikre, at social beskyttelse og økonomisk fremgang fortsat går hånd i hånd. ANTHONY GIDDENS er tidligere direktør for London School of Economics og fellow på King’s College, Cambridge. Han er medlem af Overhuset og var rådgiver for New Labour, da Tony Blair kom til magten. Hans imponerende videnskabelige produktion og stærke politiske engagement har gjort ham til sin generations mest indflydelsesrige britiske samfundstænker. På Hans Reitzels Forlag er tidligere udkommet bl.a. Intimitetens forandring (1994), Modernitetens konsekvenser (1994), Modernitet og selvidentitet (1996), og debatbøgerne Den tredje vej – socialdemokratismens fornyelse (1999) og En løbsk verden – hvordan globaliseringen forandrer vores tilværelse (2000).

Anthony Giddens' The Third Way had a far-reaching impact upon the evolution of New Labour in the UK, and upon left of centre policies in many other countries too. Today, nearly a decade later, Labour stands again at a decisive point in its history. A change of leadership can help reinvigorate the party, but winning a fourth term of government will be impossible without reinvigorating Labour's ideological position and policy outlook. What form should these innovations take? The author argues that the core emphases that have sustained Labour's hold over power for three successive terms must be maintained. For instance, it would be electoral suicide to abandon the political centre-ground, which is where the large majority of voters locate themselves. However, Labour's policies should be radically reshaped in areas where they have been unsuccessful, and where new problems have come to the fore. The biggest barrier to securing a fourth term is not Tory renewal, but public disaffection, which at the moment extends to all politicians. Labour should present itself as a party of substance, the only one capable of leading the country through a time of far-reaching change. The party should adopt what the author calls a Contract with the Future – a policy programme that puts the country in a strong position to face the new challenges that are all around us. Written in an accessible way for the general reader, the author's account of how this aim might be achieved will be of interest to everyone concerned to map out a future for Labour politics.

Anthony Giddens' The Third Way had a far-reaching impact upon the evolution of New Labour in the UK, and upon left of centre policies in many other countries too. Today, nearly a decade later, Labour stands again at a decisive point in its history. A change of leadership can help reinvigorate the party, but winning a fourth term of government will be impossible without reinvigorating Labour's ideological position and policy outlook. What form should these innovations take? The author argues that the core emphases that have sustained Labour's hold over power for three successive terms must be maintained. For instance, it would be electoral suicide to abandon the political centre-ground, which is where the large majority of voters locate themselves. However, Labour's policies should be radically reshaped in areas where they have been unsuccessful, and where new problems have come to the fore. The biggest barrier to securing a fourth term is not Tory renewal, but public disaffection, which at the moment extends to all politicians. Labour should present itself as a party of substance, the only one capable of leading the country through a time of far-reaching change. The party should adopt what the author calls a Contract with the Future – a policy programme that puts the country in a strong position to face the new challenges that are all around us. Written in an accessible way for the general reader, the author's account of how this aim might be achieved will be of interest to everyone concerned to map out a future for Labour politics.

Forfatteren tar for seg samfunnets utvikling til å bli et moderne samfunn. Denne utviklingen har ført til at det enkelte menneske har fått et rikere og sikrere liv enn tilfellet var før, men risikoer har også dukket opp: trusselen om miljøkatastrofer, økende våpenproduksjon og frykt for totalitær undertrykkelse. Disse konsekvensene skaper et univers av begivenheter der risiko og fare antar en ny karakter.

Europe's social model – its system of welfare and social protection – is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown. It is what helps to give the European societies their distinctive qualities of social cohesion and care for the vulnerable. Over recent years, however, the social model has come under great strain in many states within the European Union – unemployment, for example, remains stubbornly high. The resulting tensions have fuelled dissatisfaction with the European project as a whole, culminating in the rejection of Europe's proposed new constitution. Reform of the social model is therefore a matter of urgency. It has to go hand in hand with the quest to regenerate economic growth. The weaker performers in Europe over the past few years can learn a good deal from states that have coped more effectively. But more radical changes need to be contemplated in the face of the impact of globalization, rapidly increasing cultural diversity and changing demography. The author argues that the traditional welfare state needs to be rethought. We have to bring lifestyle change into the heart of what welfare means. Moreover, environmental issues must be directly connected to other citizenship obligations. These innovations have to be made at the same time as Europes competitive position is upgraded. This original and path-breaking book will rank alongside Beyond Left and Right, The Third Way and other works by Anthony Giddens that have helped reshape social and political thinking over recent decades.

Europe's social model – its system of welfare and social protection – is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown. It is what helps to give the European societies their distinctive qualities of social cohesion and care for the vulnerable. Over recent years, however, the social model has come under great strain in many states within the European Union – unemployment, for example, remains stubbornly high. The resulting tensions have fuelled dissatisfaction with the European project as a whole, culminating in the rejection of Europe's proposed new constitution. Reform of the social model is therefore a matter of urgency. It has to go hand in hand with the quest to regenerate economic growth. The weaker performers in Europe over the past few years can learn a good deal from states that have coped more effectively. But more radical changes need to be contemplated in the face of the impact of globalization, rapidly increasing cultural diversity and changing demography. The author argues that the traditional welfare state needs to be rethought. We have to bring lifestyle change into the heart of what welfare means. Moreover, environmental issues must be directly connected to other citizenship obligations. These innovations have to be made at the same time as Europes competitive position is upgraded. This original and path-breaking book will rank alongside Beyond Left and Right, The Third Way and other works by Anthony Giddens that have helped reshape social and political thinking over recent decades.

Moderniteten har både positiv og negativ betydning for det enkelte menneske. På den ene side tilvejebringer samfundets ekstreme udviklingsdynamik en række nye muligheder for et sikkert og berigende liv. På den anden side er der skabt grundlæggende tvivl om en række af tilværelsens eksistentielle spørgsmål, og nye risici er opstået. Oversat fra engelsk efter The Consequences of Modernity af Søren Schultz Jørgensen.

At eksistere i senmodernitetens tid indebærer, at traditioner og sædvaner ikke længere nedarves og dermed heller ikke bestemmer vores normer. Giddens redegør for, hvordan de enkelte individers identitet udvikles under sådanne betingelser. Oversat fra engelsk efter Modernity and Self-Identity af Søren Schultz Jørgensen.

Forfatteren beskriver, hvilke konsekvenser de dybtgående samfundsmæssige forandringer har for vores forståelse og praktisering af venskab og kærlighed. Oversat fra engelsk efter The Transformation of Intimacy af Else Henneberg Pedersen.

'This little book is full of insights about who we are and where we are going.' - Financial TimesThe most accessible book yet by one of the most influential thinkers of our time, Runaway World evaluates the ever-increasing impact of globalization today. Extending his arguments beyond the merely economic, Giddens shows how our growing interdependence directly affects our everyday lives. Neither a cheerleading endorsement of emerging markets, nor a fearful rant on the growth of terrorism or loss of American jobs, this is a book about a world that grows smaller every day, and how those changes are affecting our culture, our traditions, our families, and our politics. Identifying globalization as a true cultural force, this eloquent and important volume is the starting point for anyone concerned about our increasingly interconnected world.

Denne bog afviger fra de fleste andre sociologiske introduktioner på flere måder. Den indeholder en diskussion af de grundlæggende problemer i social teori – den kerne af teoretiske spørgsmål, som sociologien er fælles med alle samfundsvidenskaberne om. Jeg deler ikke den udbredte holdning, at disse spørgsmål er uden betydning for mennesker, der har brug for et indledende kendskab til sociologien. Jeg accepterer heller ikke den lige så udbredte forestilling, at sådanne spørgsmål er for komplekse til at kunne forstås af læsere, der ikke behersker fagets mere empiriske indhold. I min behandling af dette empiriske foretager jeg visse vægtninger, som afviger fra dem, man normalt ser i introducerende bøger. Mange fremstillinger af sociologien skrives primært med henblik på ét bestemt samfund – det, hvori forfatteren eller læserne lever. Jeg forsøger at undgå denne form for snæversyn ud fra den overbevisning, at en af den sociologiske tænknings hovedopgaver er at gøre sig fri af det velkendtes begrænsninger. Men den vigtigste forskel mellem denne bog og andre er måske dens stærkt historiske tilgang til emnet. ”Sociologi” og ”historie” anses normalt for adskilte studieområder, men dette synspunkt anser jeg for forfejlet. Jeg har forsøgt at udtrykke mig i korthed, og det har medført visse mangler, hvad den emnemæssige dækning angår. Jeg gør ikke noget forsøg på at give en encyklopædisk fremstilling af hele den lange række emner, der er legitime sociologiske interesseområder. Den læser, der ønsker en sådan bredde, må gå til andre kilder. Anthony Giddens Sociologi: En kort, men kritisk introduktion udkom første gang på dansk i 1995 og genudgives nu i Hans Reitzels Forlags serie Klassikere.

New Labour is back in power - where now? What should the party's agenda be? How should the centre-left react to a changed external world marked by economic downturn, protests against globalization and an unstable international order? Anthony Giddens argues that to answer these questions, and assess the progress Labour has made, we must take a comparative perspective. Breaking with the insularity that has marked much political debate in the UK, Giddens draws extensively on the experience of social democrats in other countries. All centre-left parties are reacting to common issues and problems that have forced a rethinking of leftist traditions. Giddens argues that Labour can and should develop a more compelling ideological framework than exists so far, and a clearer view of what kind of society Britain should become. This can only be achieved, however, by building upon the New Labour project, not by returning to policies of the past that quite rightly have been discarded.

This is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of the best–selling introductory reader in sociology. The book offers a comprehensive, yet challenging, set of readings for students approaching the study of sociology for the first time. A strong emphasis has been placed upon readability and liveliness. The volume includes contributions from newspapers and weekly periodicals as well as extracts from academic journals and books. It is designed as a companion to the fourth edition of Giddens'Sociology but can also be used independently, or alongside other textbooks. The book maintains the distinctive approach which Sociology pioneered. It is strongly comparative and stresses the influence of globalizing trends in social life. The readings range from studies of face–to–face interaction through to the analysis of large–scale global systems. There are many new selections in this volume including those on the internet, the information revolution, poverty, social exclusion and ecological problems. The readings are broken up into sections and each section is preceded by a summary of the content in order to facilitate the students' comprehension. The introductory material has been written or updated by Anthony Giddens. The result is a text that is both wide ranging and exceptionally easy to follow. Sociology: Introductory Readings will be an essential resource for anyone who wishes to acquire a basic understanding of the scope of sociological thought today.

Et tankevækkende forsøg på i kort form at give et overblik over, hvad der efter Giddens' mening er globaliseringens karakteristika, forudsætninger og ikke mindst dens konsekvenser - for os alle sammen og for hver enkelt. Oversat fra engelsk efter Runaway World af Erik Barfoed.

The idea of finding a 'third way' in politics has become a focus of discussion across the world. Political leaders, in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America claim to be following its principles. Yet the notion has also attracted much criticism. Some say it is an empty concept without any real content. Critics from the more traditional left argue that it is a betrayal of left-wing ideals. Anthony Giddens's The Third Way (Polity Press, 1998) is regarded by many as the key text of third way politics. Translated into twenty-five languages, it has shaped the development of the third way. In this new book Giddens responds to the critics, and further develops the ideas set out in his earlier volume. Far from being unable to deal with inequalities of wealth and power, he shows, third way politics offers the only feasible approach to these issues. The work is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the most important political debate going on today. Anthony Giddens is the Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author or editor of over thirty books. His previous works, especially Beyond Left and Right (Polity Press, 1994) have influenced debates about the future of social democracy in many countries across the world. Frequently referred to in the UK as Tony Blair's guru, Giddens has made a strong impact on the evolution of New Labour.

The idea of finding a 'third way' in politics has become a focus of discussion across the world. Political leaders, in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America claim to be following its principles. Yet the notion has also attracted much criticism. Some say it is an empty concept without any real content. Critics from the more traditional left argue that it is a betrayal of left-wing ideals. Anthony Giddens's The Third Way (Polity Press, 1998) is regarded by many as the key text of third way politics. Translated into twenty-five languages, it has shaped the development of the third way. In this new book Giddens responds to the critics, and further develops the ideas set out in his earlier volume. Far from being unable to deal with inequalities of wealth and power, he shows, third way politics offers the only feasible approach to these issues. The work is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the most important political debate going on today. Anthony Giddens is the Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author or editor of over thirty books. His previous works, especially Beyond Left and Right (Polity Press, 1994) have influenced debates about the future of social democracy in many countries across the world. Frequently referred to in the UK as Tony Blair's guru, Giddens has made a strong impact on the evolution of New Labour.