Communicating and Organizing in Context

SECTION IV

Toward a Theory ofStructurational Interaction

Given the overviews of both Goffman and Giddens, many points of similarity in their theories can be noted, well beyond Giddens’ use of Goffman's interaction order as a basis for social integration. Shared emphases on social practices, agency, identity, the importance of context and actors’ knowledgeability reflect some of the points of congruency between them. In addition, frames have been used by both theorists and can be used to interweave their theories even more tightly.

In Chapter 11, I will more fully integrate Goffman and Giddens, examining other ways in which their theoretical perspectives can be interwoven, while remaining consistent with both perspectives and moving toward establishing ...