Theorizing Social Structure- Governance Mechanisms of Social and Economic Organizations

The concept of social structure is widely recognized as one of the most fundamental ideas in the discipline of sociology. However, in this book the author argues that it still remains one of the most elusive and abused concepts in sociological theory. The author claims that the continued status of the notion of social structure in contemporary sociological theory results from a significant lack of precise theories about social structure. The goal of this book is to achieve a theoretical synthesis in order to form a basis towards a sociological theory of social structure. In doing so, the author draws from three major currents of sociological thought. First, the author identifies principles of social structure from classical sociologists. Second, he revisits and reclaims the useful contributions made in the discourse concerning the issue of structure-agency. Third, he draws from economic and organizational sociology in search of governance structures which, in essence, offer a viable conceptualization of social structure. The book addresses the important question of social structure in the field of general sociological theory.