Sociological Theories: Functionalism vs Conflict

Comparison of Theoretical Perspectives

• Structural Functionalism: Society comprises interrelated parts with a cultural consensus, leading to social order, balance, and harmony.

• Focuses on how society maintains stability and order

• Key theorists include Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton.

• Individuals are socialized by institutions, this process is how society exerts social control, fulfilling the need people have for society and its institutions.

• Emphasizes repairing weak institutions, proper socialization, and cultivating a collective sense of right and wrong to address social problems.

• Criticized as "sunshine sociology" for supporting the status quo without addressing power, conflict, or differing functional perspectives.

• Conflict Theory: Society is characterized by power struggles over scarce resources, resulting in conflict and inevitable social change, an imbalance.

• Views society as inherently unequal, with groups competing for power and resources.

• Major theorists include Karl Marx and Ralf Dahrendorf.

• People are inherently good but corrupted by the socioeconomic structure, which is controlled by groups with power

• Emphasizes minimizing competition and creating an equitable system for resource distribution.

• Faulted for being a Utopian model because Marxist states have failed, denies cooperation and exchange, and cannot explain cohesion or harmony.

• Symbolic Interactionism: Society is a network of interlocking roles where social order is constructed through interaction, through shared meaning people make sense of their social world.

• Focuses on micro-level interactions and how individuals create meaning through symbols and communication.

• Leading figures include George H. Mead, Charles Cooley, and Erving Goffman.

• Humans are interpretive and interactive, constantly changing as social beings shaped by changing circumstances.

• Social problems arise from different role interpretations and labeling, objective conditions become problems through definition.

• Focuses on reducing the impact of stigmatization and altering problem definitions.

• Critiqued for concentrating on micro issues, failing to link them to macro-level concerns, being overly psychological, and assuming label amplification.

Quote by Ayine Akolgo (2023)

• Every society is full of problems but also full of the people who can solve those problems.
• The fundamental social problem is that those who create the problems do not allow those who can solve them to do so.

Introduction to African Social Problems

• The "Scramble for Africa" (1885-1914) marked an intense period of colonization that lasted for less than a century up to the 1950s.
• The colonial experience in Africa constitutes a brief but charged and controversial period in its history.
• It introduced a new historical form and new discourses on African traditions and cultures.
• Key questions include whether colonization solved the "Hobbesian picture" of a pre-European Africa mired in constant fear and violence.
• Another question considers whether colonization introduced the "Rousseauian picture" of an African golden age of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The African People and Culture

• Africa is the second-largest continent.
• Possibly more languages spoken in Africa than any other continent.
• African culture has strongly resisted projects that fail to respect it, even as it evolves.
• Concerns have arisen about modernizing African attitudes and culture, with some suggesting abolishing traditional culture.
• Many have disdained traditional culture instead of integrating it into development paradigms.

The African People and Culture: Development Issues

• Three decades of focusing on development in Africa have yielded limited results.
• African economies have been stagnant or declining.
• Real incomes have decreased, health prospects have worsened, malnourishment is widespread, and infrastructure is failing for most Africans.
• (Claude Ake, 1996) highlights these issues.

African Politics and Patriotism

• Explores whether African politics encourage patriotism.
• Patriotism involves devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.
• It is a feeling of attachment and commitment to a country, nation, or political community.
• Patriotism, love of country, and nationalism, loyalty to one's nation, are related but distinct, patriotism originated ~2,000 years before nationalism in the 19th century.
• Patriotism unites people, builds a strong nation, fosters fortitude and strength, and makes every act important.

Africa's Problems: Failures of Development

• Colonial legacy
• Social pluralism and centrifugal tendencies
• Corruption of leaders
• Poor labor discipline
• Lack of entrepreneurial skills
• Poor planning and incompetent management
• Inappropriate policies
• Stifling of market mechanisms
• Low levels of technical assistance
• Limited inflow of foreign capital
• Failing commodity prices and unfavorable trade terms
• Low levels of saving and investment

Political Causes of African Problems

• Development's failure stems from it never being the agenda, since political conditions are the greatest impediment to development.
• Claude Ake's Democracy and Development in Africa (1996) addresses this.

Topics for Group Work

• Alcohol and other Drugs
• Mental Health
• Crime, Social Control, and Criminal Justice
• The Family, Marriage, and Divorce
• Domestic Violence
• Aging and Ageism
• Disability
• Schools and Education
• Population Growth and Urbanization
• Employment and Entrepreneurship Issues
• The Environment, Pollution and Sanitation
• Illegal Mining
• Science, and Technology
• Social Media
• Conflicts and Wars
• Terrorism
• Rural-Urban Migration
• Bribery and Corruption
• Multi-Party Democracy
• Chieftaincy and Traditional Rule
• Religion and Religious Extremism

Group Work Guidelines

• Define the problem.
• Address how it is a problem, sociologically.
• Identify who is affected in terms of population data.
• Galvanize stakeholder support.
• Propose practical solutions.
• Define indicators for when the problem is solved.
• Include references.
• Each presentation is allocated 15 minutes.