‘Some Reflections on the Institutional Framework of Economic Development’ from Structure and Process in Modern Societies By Talcott Parsons

Talcott Parsons American Sociologist ‘Structural functionalism’

Human agency in all societies is balanced by a functioning social structure. N + V, transmitted through different institutions. Plays a vital role by regulating behaviour and ensuring individual action consistent with the social order. Looks at the transformation of the structure of society, and argues that this is due to the growth, development, and organization of the large-scale, urbanized, industrialized, Western type of society.

Structure and Process in Modern Societies (1960) Consists of 10 essay’s written by Parsons, condensed into 4 chapters :- –The Analysis of Formal Organizations –Social Structure and Economic Development –Structure and Process in Political Systems –The Structural setting of some Social functions

Concentrates on Bureaucratic problems Formal organization Economic development Industrialization Power and authority...To further his argument.

‘ Some Reflections on the Institutional Framework of Economic Development’ Essay can be found in the first half of Chapter 2 (pages ) References Max Weber’s work throughout Focused on Weber’s emphasis on the factor of Bureaucracy in business. Parsons describes markets as differentiating over several years in response to the strains of European expansion and the opportunities this expansion provided for an entrepreneurial middle class

He noted that the ability to respond to these opportunities depended on certain unique features of western development. For example :- the legal and military autonomy of the merchant cities the checks and balances between church and state that prevented political authority from inhabiting the growth of the middle class for noneconomic political reasons

Also talks about Religion (Christianity, Protestantism) to further his point about cultural heritage, and its role it plays in a changing market structure. In western culture, Parsons found that Wealth, Power and ‘erotic gratification’ are seen as dangerous ‘things of the world’ Another religious barrier, according to Parsons, is the way religions tend to favour traditionalistic stereotyped behaviour. ‘This is most prominent where the religious tradition itself is strongly permeated with magical and ritualistic elements, but it is also true wherever much of secular life is endowed with direct sacred-symbolic significance’. Parsons, T. ‘Structure and Process in Modern Societies.’ (1960) pp.105

Then shifts focus onto political aspects of the social structure Political power rests on the support of important elements of the collective Such elements, Parsons found, act as a process of integrating the social system for the ‘attainment’ of goals, due to the action of political leadership elements.

Then, he writes about how capitalism, has shaken the organizational structure of society, changing from a ‘family core’ into a more controlled, strong structure. Uses Weber’s description of capitalism as a example of how this came about. He notes that this control over the structure has been achieved due to the institution of property. He found that this is directly connected to the extension of the market system.

Criticisms Lack of empirical facts. –No concrete data specifically analyzed –Dependant on Weber’s work Wonder whether Parsons has sufficient depth of knowledge himself to undertake type of analysis Weber/Marx/Durkheim have done on subject of class and structure. Accepts Weber’s view of Capitalism too easily, doesn’t offer criticism, or in fact counter argue such criticism (He agrees and that’s that)

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