A Relationally Interdependent Approach to Structuration Informed by Critical Race Theory

• In Event: From State Agencies to Middle Managers: Theorizing Organizational Processes

Abstract

This theoretical paper integrates Critical Race Theory (CRT) with Giddens' (1984) structuration theory and social network perspectives to understand racialized oppression in organizational studies. It critiques neo-institutional theories for neglecting racial dynamics and argues that a relational perspective on structuration theory can address these issues more effectively. Synthesizing Giddens’ framework with insights from Sewell (1992) and Crossley (2022), the paper emphasizes the role of relationships in shaping social structures. It explores CRT tenets to deepen our understanding of agency and structure. By incorporating social network analysis (SNA), the paper provides empirical tools for mapping opportunities and constraints, offering a framework for analyzing social positions, power dynamics, and institutional norms.

Author

• David Albert Rodes Trautman, University of California - San Diego