Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations International Award for Excellence

The Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations Journal Collection offers an annual award for newly published research or thinking that has been recognized to be outstanding by members of the Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations Research Network.

Award Winners for Volume 24

Relations of Intimacy and Family in the Thought of Anthony Giddens

Anthony Giddens is one of the most widely published sociologists of the twentieth century. He is one of the most important theorists of the concepts of agency, reflexivity, intimacy, and numerous others. This article examines Giddens’ perspective on family, intimacy, and structural changes in close relationships. The article follows the main theses of this author and gives them a new perspective through the main critics and ideas applied in contemporary research. Giddens places the consideration of intimacy and family within the framework of late modernity, which he sees as a radicalization of the consequences of the development of modern society. The transformation of intimacy is an aspect of contemporary human identity that is viewed reflexively. Today’s society is characterized by a high rate of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and life circumstances are changing more and more frequently. Giddens sees so-called pure relationships as a new form of expression of intimacy and discusses their position in relation to structural elements of contemporary society, risks, democratization, and individual reflexivity. Based on the analysis of Giddens work and his main critics, the article argues that it is necessary to approach the ideal of a pure relationship by working towards openness and confidential communication in intimate relationships.


The author's interest in this topic arises from studying everyday micro-interactions and their evolution within contemporary society. This paper focuses on Giddens' concept of the "pure relationship," which provides valuable insights into the nature of intimate relationships. Giddens highlights the democratization of relationships within families, between partners, and among friends, emphasizing that such relationships become self-referential—sustained by mutual trust and emotional communication rather than external factors such as religion or local traditions.

The paper examines selected studies that demonstrate the explanatory potential of Giddens' ideas on intimacy and underscores the need for a more systematic exploration of these themes. The transformation of intimacy must be analyzed in relation to gender orientations, class structures, religiosity, ethnicity, and other aspects of fragmented identities. Additionally, the discussion highlights the influence of broader social circumstances on intimacy, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and the risks associated with war.

Furthermore, the paper stresses the importance of continuously assessing the negative consequences of shifting intimate relationships, particularly various forms of domestic violence, as well as the effectiveness of personal and collective conflict resolution strategies, including policies and legislation. Ultimately, it argues that the concept of the pure relationship can play a significant role in democratizing the private sphere in an informed and meaningful way.

—Toni Popovic, Renata Relja, and Tea Gutović

Past Award Winners

Volume 23

Training for Health and Social Workers in Migrants’ Reception System: A Necessary Tool in Intercultural Settings?

Stella Pinna Pintor and Roberta Ricucci, The International Journal of Diversity in Education, Volume 23, Issue 2, pp.13–35


Volume 22

Orientation to Compassion: Exploring How Space Constructs Meanings of Compassion for 2SLGBTQ Individuals

Patricia Hornback and Aida Isela Ramos, The International Journal of Diverse Identities, Volume 22, Issue 2, pp.15–30


Volume 22

Brought to Light: Constructive Indigenization in Tribal Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Patricia Hornback and Aida Isela Ramos, The International Journal of Community Diversity, Volume 22, Issue 1, pp.1–21


Volume 20

Intersections of Decolonial and Global Citizenship Principles in Academic Literacy Curricula

Oscar Oliver Eybers, The International Journal of Diversity in Education, Volume 20, Issue 1, pp.1–9


Volume 18

Re-imagining Cosmopolitanism in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Reviving Historical “Cosmubuntuism” in Forced Removal Spaces for a Democratic Future

Mogamat Noor Davids, The International Journal of Community Diversity, Volume 18, Issue 1, pp.23–36


Volume 17

Does Diversity Really Matter?: The Interplay between Students’ Race and Their Teachers’ Level of Cultural Responsiveness

Tyrone Tanner, Douglas Hermond, Mathias R. Vairez Jr., Leslie Larchin, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 17, pp.1–10


Volume 16

Bonding and Bridging Social Capital among an Ethnic Minority Group: The Case of the Japanese Community in the Greater Boston Area

Hitomi Naganuma, Megumi Inoue, and Margaret Lombe, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 16, pp.15–24


Volume 15

Engagement with Place: Cairo as Classroom

Fayyaz Vellani, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 15, pp.1–12


Volume 14

Racialized Teachers and Role-Model Hypothesis

Robin Liu Hopson, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 13, pp. 22–33


Volume 13

Economic Inequality and Inter-group Relations: Analyses Based on the Minorities at Risk Dataset

Agnes Katalin Koos, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 13, pp.1–21


Volume 12

The Emergence of Australia’s Business Migration Program and Entrepreneurial Diversity Policy

Patrick Brownlee, The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 12, pp.15–31


Volume 11

European Disintegration: Tendencies of Renationalization within the European Union and its Impact on the Common Labor Market and EU Consumer Markets

Thomas Köllen, International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 11, Issue 5, pp.117–138


Volume 10

Measuring the Effect of Diversity Interventions at a South African Residential University

Vivian de Klerk and Sarah Radloff, International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 10, Issue 2, pp.25–46


Volume 9

Perceptions of the Impact of Positive Action in EU and non-EU Countries

Uduak Archibong, Jite Eferakorho, Aliya Darr, Andy Scally, Karl Atkin, Carol Baxter, Mark R. D. Johnson, Mark Bell, Lisa Waddington, Katrin Wladasch, Tara Bedard, Oluyinka Adejumo, Phyllis Sharps, and Pat Bradshaw, International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 9, Issue 5, pp.111–124


Volume 8

Appropriation or Approximation: The Emergence of Intermediate Horizons

De La Rosa Sybille, International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp.235–240