He advocated for a redefined state that facilitates "equality of opportunity" rather than just acting as a top-down welfare provider.
He argues that social structures are both the medium and the outcome of our actions. For example, when you speak English, you are following the rules of the language (structure), but your act of speaking is what keeps the language alive and evolving (agency). The Sociology of Anthony Giddens
Modernity "lifts" social relations out of local contexts. For instance, online banking allows you to interact with a system across the globe without ever meeting a person face-to-face. He advocated for a redefined state that facilitates
ReviseSociology provides a 14-point summary of his book Modernity and Self-Identity , covering everything from "ontological security" to "narcissism" in the modern age. How to Shift Sociological Product Modernity "lifts" social relations out of local contexts
If you are looking for specific viewpoints, these platforms offer unique takes:
Giddens characterizes our current era as "late modernity" or a "juggernaut" that is constantly rushing out of control.
Giddens famously advised Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, proposing a political path between traditional socialism and free-market capitalism.