Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 09:44:49 +0100
From: Colin Wight <Colin.Wight-AT-aber.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: BHA: TMSA


Hi Hans,

Notwithstanding that your message utterly transformed my day (I got 152
copies of it into my Bhaskar folder), surely the answer is obvious.
Transformation is a possibility, but one that requires agency to bring it
into being. It is part of the as yet unactualised, but real tendencies
embedded within structures. Since structures are concept and activity
dependent they are tied to the concepts and activities of agents. This
makes "intentional" transformation dependent upon knowledge, which is
necessary for such transformation but not sufficient for it (this doesn't
rule out unintentional transformation - as in your 152 messages). 

Moreover the TMSA, is best seen as a process. Agents routinely go about
their business yet in the process effect minute, and at the time
impercerptible, changes in social structures. But over the long duree only
these agential practices can explain change. But more often than not this
is more a reproduction than a transformation. Where else does
transformation of social world come from apart from the activities of the
agents? This hardly makes CR conservative as you suggest, for it locates
transformation firmly in our practices. And of course, discursive knowledge
of this allows you to change your practices and your personality if you
wish. What CR, does highlight is that this is never going to be an easy
process, given the structural complexes neceesary for you to be an "I".
Where do other accounts locate transformation?

Thanks,


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Colin Wight
Department of International Politics
University of Wales
Aberystwyth
telephone: +44 (0)1970-621769
fax      : +44 (0)1970-622709
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