Giddens, Anthony. "Agency, Structure" in Central Problems in Social Theory, UC Press, 1979

In this paper, Giddens comments on the inadequacies of both structural and action theories and proposes that a dualistic perspective is more accurate and useful. Structure and action exist and change as a result of each other. Structure is a space-time phenomena guided by paradigms built on past actions. Actions are predicated on structure, and the intended and unintended consequences of these actions dynamically shape the temporal conditions and rules of structure and function.

According to Giddens, actors have both discursive and practical consciousness. Their actions are partly conscious and rational, and partly based on reflexive and unacknowledged structural paradigms. Actors continuously monitor, rationalize, and reflexively adjust their actions to conform to their structural understanding, which in turn affects structure.

Giddens proposes structuration as the process by which structure continuously evolves through time viathe actions of its members. Structure doesn't exist except through action.