Which theory suggests that the structure and action are necessarily related to each other and are not opposites.

Correct option is C

Structuration

The Structuration Theory was developed by Anthony Giddens in the 1980s as a way to bridge the gap between structure and agency (action) in social theory. This theory argues that social structure and human agency are interdependent and cannot be understood separately.

• Structure refers to the rules, norms, and institutions that shape social interactions.
• Agency (Action) refers to the ability of individuals to act independently and make choices.
• Giddens argued that structure is not static but is constantly reproduced and modified through human actions.

This concept challenges earlier sociological theories that saw structure and action as opposites. Instead, structuration shows that structures are both the medium and the outcome of social practices.

Information Booster:

• Anthony Giddens introduced Structuration Theory in his book The Constitution of Society (1984).
• The theory integrates macro (structure) and micro (individual agency) perspectives in sociology.
• Giddens used the term "duality of structure" to explain how structures both enable and constrain human actions.
• Unlike Structuralism, which focuses only on deep structures, Structuration Theory emphasizes dynamic interactions.
• It has influenced social sciences, political studies, and organizational theory.
• The theory explains social change by showing how individuals can modify structures through repeated actions.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• (a) Structuralism

  • Structuralism, developed by Claude Lévi-Strauss and Ferdinand de Saussure, focuses on underlying structures (such as language and culture) that shape human behavior.
  • It does not emphasize human agency as an active force in shaping structure.

• (b) Structural-functionalism

  • Structural-functionalism, associated with Émile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons, views society as a stable system where different parts function together.
  • It focuses on social order and stability, rather than the dynamic relationship between structure and action.

• (d) Post-structuralism

  • Post-structuralism, influenced by thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, critiques fixed structures and emphasizes fluidity and power dynamics.
  • It does not propose that structure and action are necessarily related, as structuration does.