Appointed as Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1997, Anthony Giddens was previously a Fellow & Professor of Sociology at King′s College, Cambridge.
Among his 34 books are The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy, The Third Way and It′s Critics, and Runaway World: How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives. There is a substantial body of academic writing and criticism about his work. He co-founded the academic publishing house Polity Press in 1985 and in 1999 was the BBC Reith Lecturer.
In particular, Anthony Giddens developed the theory of structurization, which is the understanding of the relationship between individuals and the conditions around them. We should view life in society as a series of ongoing activities and practices that people carry on, but which at the same time reproduce larger institutions.
Most recently he has been at the forefront of developing ideas in left of centre politics. Anthony Giddens has helped to popularise the idea of the ′Third Way′. The Third Way represents the renewal of social democracy in a world where the views of the old left have become obsolete, while those of the new right are inadequate and contradictory. A new social democratic agenda is emerging that is integrated, robust and wide-ranging, which can also rekindle political idealism. Anthony Giddens has travelled to many countries around the world talking to political leaders and heads of state about the development of third way politics.
Frequently referred to as Tony Blair′s guru, Professor Giddens has made a strong impact on the evolution of New Labour.