Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism

This book is the first work of Giddens' famous "Trilogy of Social Theory" and a representative work of critical theory of modernity in the late 20th century. It also reflects Giddens' "structuration theory" in-depth exploration of core issues in sociology. On the one hand, this book continues Giddens's tradition of reinterpreting the works of classic sociologists, basing it on the contemporary era, and using the latest discoveries in various disciplines to criticize and reflect on historical materialism. He pointed out that Marx's historical materialism has great limitations in explaining many phenomena of non-class society in the pre-capitalist period and post-industrial society. On the other hand, Giddens, inspired by the philosophy of Heidegger and the works of modern geography, introduced the relationship of time and space into the core of social theory and linked it to the generation of power. He examined the manifestations of nation-states, nationalism, commodification, urbanization, etc. In the context of late modernity, in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary history.