Lars Bo Kaspersen is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, where he teaches sociology, history, and politics. He is co-editor, with Heine Andersen, of Classical and Modern Social Theory (Blackwell, 2000). He is currently working on the origin, development, and transformation of the Danish welfare state, and on the state formation and the emergence of citizenship in France, British, Germany, and Scandinavia in a historical comparative perspective.

"An outstanding and readable introduction to the work of the UK's leading contemporary sociologist."William Outhwaite, University of Sussex "Kaspersen brings a sophisticated understanding of Giddens's entire agenda to this truly accessible text. Newcomers will welcome the reliable consolidations of Giddens's central themes. Advanced theorists will appreciate Kaspersen's trenchant criticisms and his extensive coverage of new developments in Giddens's political thought." Ira J. Cohen, Rutgers University

• Preface. Introduction.1. Anthony Giddens, the Positive Critic: the Dialogue with Classical and Modern Sociology.2 Giddens as Constructor: the Theory of Structuration as a Response to the Dualism of Social Theory.3 The Theory of Structuration.4 Giddens's Theory of the State: the Nation-state and War.5 The Analysis of Modernity: Globalization, the Transformation of Intimacy, and the Post-traditional Society.6 Giddens and Politics: toward Positive Welfare, Generative Politics, and the Radical Center.7 The Post-traditional Society and Radical Politics: an Interview with Anthony Giddens.8 Giddens's Social and Political Theory: Some Critical Viewpoints. Epilogue.Bibliography.Index.