Gaurav KumarAIR 34 · CSE 2017 · 215 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
Talcott Parson is busy in building mega theories on social action and action social systems. He is rejecting to weberian ideal type, trying to fit all facts in one grand theory.
Body · points
(1) Parsons advocate that man is voluntarily coming in association with the society through rational action and using alternate means for the gratification of his goals.
(2) His develops social system theory wherein each system has one function which is non-transferable and non-negotiable.
(i) Adaptive function - organismic system - economy (ii) Goal attainment - personality system - govt. (iii) Integration - social system - law, religion, education (iv) latency - cultural system - family
(3) He says that govt. has power which forms political system and it has the functions of goal attainment.
(4) It frames goals, choose appropriate means and achieves them. This role cannot be influenced by anyone and it is non-negotiable.
CRITICISM
These views of Parsons seem very myopic and naive in light of following scholars:
(1) David Easton advocates that political system is greatly influenced by external environment consisting of pressure groups, interest groups, NGOs, international politics etc. not considered by Parsons.
(2) Almond & coleman rejects this functional theory saying non-government power groups also has roles to play like political mobilisation, political recruitment, interest articulation and interest aggregation.
Close · no separate close
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