ABSTRACT
It has only been possible to sketch and discuss a fraction of Luhmann’s impressive sociological work in this book. I have tried to draw attention to a number of the central concepts in his systems theory, just as I have attempted to convey a sense of how Luhmann approaches and studies social phenomena. While this cannot conceal the fact that there are many layers of his work that have not been addressed here, I do hope to have indicated some of the main conceptual and analytical contributions of Luhmann, which might prove helpful in future sociological studies. In this final chapter I would like to summarise what I conceive as the chief sociological achievements of Luhmann, to point to some blind spots in his work and, at the end, to suggest what it might mean to follow in the footsteps of Luhmann.
