(Sample Material) Gist of Important Articles from IIPA Journal
Topic: Sociological Theory and Concepts in Public Administration A.P. Barnadas
Introduction
The three approaches’ to the study of society in Sociology are- structure; function, interaction and conflict “Functionalism” is referred as an “integration theory”. It regards society as a structure of mutually interrelated parts which are sustained by mechanisms and which provide for, equilibrium: Various’ parts of the society are understood primarily in terms of relationship to the whole. Social order social stability, inter-dependence division of labour are same aspects of structure functionalist approach. It also maintains, that social institutions’ serve functions, which are essential for the survival of existing systems. Smelser suggest that the following aspects are central ideas of the theory.
- Institutions serve purpose as the on-going society effort to guarantee that its main goals are realised.
- Institutions manifest a strain towards consistency, e.g. the contours of a higher education shaped by the functional needs or higher technology service based economy.
- Strains and contradictions in institutional life set up by equilibrating g process that change these institutions in adaptive direction.
- A principal from of change in developing societies is structural differentiation. Van Dev Berghe feels that the following elements are involved in the structure function approach:
- Societies must be looked at holistically as systems of inter- related Parts, Hence the causation’ is multiple and reciprocal. Social. Systems are in state of dynamic equilibrium, the dominant tendency is towards stabilizing and inertia.
- Change generally occurs’ in a gradual adjusticive factor-not in a sudden revolutionary way.
- Changes tome from basically three sources: adjustment of the system, exogenous growth through structural functional growth and inventions or innovations by members and group within society.
- The most important and basic factor making for social integration is value consensus.