A comprehensive and original comparison of two of the most important and influential contemporary social theorists This major new contribution forms a constructive comparison of the social theories of Jürgen Habermas and Anthony Giddens that focuses on their approaches to modernity, their endeavours to develop new perspectives, and their critical rethinking of the modernist vision of an autonomous society. 'This is a careful and considered engagement with the work of Habermas and Giddens. It identifies their positive contributions to a theory of modernity while developing a critique of lacunae in their thought arising from social developments subsequent to their main body of writing. It is an important work of recuperation and reflection.' — John Holmwood, Professor of Sociology, University of Nottingham, UK 'This is a book that lives up to its main promise, but goes well beyond it. It presents Habermas's and Giddens's works innovatively as well as sketches a renewal of critical theory with a timely emphasis on creativity and the development of the global modern civilizational constellation.' — José Maurício Domingues, Professor, Institute for Social and Political Studies, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil