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Morphogenesis in Complex Adaptive Sociocultural Systems: Before and After Archer.

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Title: Morphogenesis in Complex Adaptive Sociocultural Systems: Before and After Archer.
Authors: Crossley, Nick (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p.
Subjects: Structuration theory, Giddens, Anthony, 1938-, Systems theory, Sociocultural factors, Social theory, Sociologists
Abstract: Margaret Archer's widely cited work on the structure/agency problem draws upon the concept of 'morphogenesis', which she borrows (with full acknowledgement) from Walter Buckley's theory of complex adaptive sociocultural systems. In this paper, I revisit Buckley's original formulation and argue that it is both different from and better than Archer's later version (though she makes an interesting methodological contribution to it). Archer's version is shaped by her desire to avoid 'conflating' structures and agents, as she believes Anthony Giddens' structuration theory does. It is sometimes appropriate to draw an analytic distinction between structures and actors, as she suggests and as Giddens himself occasionally does, but she goes beyond this in practice, arguing for a more substantial distinction different to cannot be defended. Buckley rightly rejects any such substantial distinction. His position is closer to Giddens' in this respect. However, his approach differs significantly from that of Giddens too, avoiding the problems that Archer identifies with structuration theory. Buckley thus affords a preferable alternative to both Archer and Giddens, a middle path that combines the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of their respective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Morphogenesis in Complex Adaptive Sociocultural Systems: Before and After Archer.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Crossley%2C+Nick%22">Crossley, Nick</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+for+the+Theory+of+Social+Behaviour%22">Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structuration+theory%22">Structuration theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Giddens%2C+Anthony%2C+1938-%22">Giddens, Anthony, 1938-</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systems+theory%22">Systems theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociocultural+factors%22">Sociocultural factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+theory%22">Social theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociologists%22">Sociologists</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Margaret Archer's widely cited work on the structure/agency problem draws upon the concept of 'morphogenesis', which she borrows (with full acknowledgement) from Walter Buckley's theory of complex adaptive sociocultural systems. In this paper, I revisit Buckley's original formulation and argue that it is both different from and better than Archer's later version (though she makes an interesting methodological contribution to it). Archer's version is shaped by her desire to avoid 'conflating' structures and agents, as she believes Anthony Giddens' structuration theory does. It is sometimes appropriate to draw an analytic distinction between structures and actors, as she suggests and as Giddens himself occasionally does, but she goes beyond this in practice, arguing for a more substantial distinction different to cannot be defended. Buckley rightly rejects any such substantial distinction. His position is closer to Giddens' in this respect. However, his approach differs significantly from that of Giddens too, avoiding the problems that Archer identifies with structuration theory. Buckley thus affords a preferable alternative to both Archer and Giddens, a middle path that combines the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of their respective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/jtsb.70045
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
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      – SubjectFull: Structuration theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Giddens, Anthony, 1938-
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systems theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociocultural factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociologists
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Morphogenesis in Complex Adaptive Sociocultural Systems: Before and After Archer.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour
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