Functionalism, Maxism

Question

Use sociological terminology to describe the principal sociological perspectives of Functionalism, Marxism, Interactionism, collectivism, postmodernism and The New Right.

Functionalism

This is the sociological approach that sees the social institutions of the society as working in agreement with each other, making specific and clear contributions towards the running of society.

Functionalism is one of the oldest theories that are still used today. In functionalism society is made up of different social institution such as education, religion, media etc that work together to keep the society secure. Functionalism relies very much on these institutions that for society to survived they depends on this institutions in order to mean their basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter etc. Emile Durkheim looks at modern society as a living organism with different parts working interpedently with each other to keep the body healthy. As the hand, feet and other parts of the body works to keep entire body strong and fit, he also believed that institutions should work in partnership with each other in order for society to survive.

“In order for the heart, lungs and brain in the human body, we need to understand what function or purpose each carried out and how they work together in the providing and maintaining the basic needs of human life. Similarly, functionalists argue that any society has certain function prerequisites (certain basic needs or requirements) that must be met if society is to survive such as the production of food, the care of the young and the socialization of new generation into the culture of society.”
(Class handout, (28-09-08), some key introductory idea (functionalism)

Functionalist also believed that the educational system prepare people for the world of work (employment), as people found themselves in this learning institution to acquired new skills as well as widening their   knowledge and intellectual development by...