Social Dynamics Functionalism continued The example of Malinowski Conflict dynamics

Social Order – Social Disorder Chapter 1 of Sociology: Micro, Macro and Mega is about the social structure. –For functional theory, that structure is mainly the set of solidary groups and norms. –For conflict theory, that structure is mainly a structure of unequal positions and rewards. Chapter 2 deals with social dynamics. –For functional theory, that dynamic is mainly the norms and their opposite: anomie –For conflict theory, that dynamic is mainly the dynamic of alienation.

Conflict Dynamics: For conflict theorist, the process creating classes also generates a discontinuous process of change. This is evident in the “Monopoly” model. –In Monopoly, the rules do not lead to one game continuing indefinitely or just flowing into another. –The rules create a dynamic of polarization and increased inequality that ends the game.

Alienation and Inequality In Monopoly, the only thing that is alienated is property. –For example, when you land on Boardwalk, you may have to begin selling all your stuff to pay the rent.. –It is not robbery; it is the rules. In the real world, political influence, power, status, education, health, contacts, etc are also alienated.

Changing the rules There are many ways that the rules of Monopoly could be changed to slow down the process of concentration. So long as possession of resources helps one get access to further resources, the tendency will be for polarization to occur. For Marx, this concentration of resources and of the power and interest to hold on to them was also the process by which the social structure takes on a life of its own.

Functional Dynamics For Durkheim and other funcitonalists, the main process of social dynamics is that of structural differentiation. Relatively undifferentiated, homogeneous structures and roles are replaced by specialized, hetergeneous ones. This leads to a tendency to anomie – the weakening or breakdown of the normative system.

Organic Solidarity But Durkhiem did not believe that anomie was inevitable. The transformation of the normative system in the direction of more general and fairer rules (democracy, human rights, equality before the law, equal opportunity, etc.) could allow the normative integration of an advanced, differentiated heterogeneous society.

The “forced division of labor” However, Durkheim believed that organic solidarity could not happen unless positions were equally open to all. –He called the absence of equal access the “forced division of labor.” And he believed that when there is inherited property, there is inherited social position and “forced division of labor.” He believed that forced division of labor would gradually disappear by public education, scholarships, inheritance taxes, and provision for the poor.

Functionalist Anthropology Much of functionalist sociology was influenced by functionalist anthropology. Bronslow Malinowski is a main example. In the 20 th century, the view that social structures and cultures must be viewed as interdependent wholes has been a dominant approach.

Functional Universals. Malinowski believed that there are around a dozen tasks that all societies must perform. “Institutions” are organized to carry out those tasks. The later chapters of Sociology: Micro, Macro and Mega are a typical, but not exhaustive account of these functions: –Family, religion, politics, economy, medicine, education, science, regulation of sexuality…

An example of functionalist explanation in anthropology: Malinowski's Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922) studied the Trobriand Islanders –The Kula is a series of ritual gifts/exchanges. One gives necklaces (Soulava) to people, who at a later time, give one arm shells (Mwali) One gives arm shells to others, who will, in return, later give one necklaces The Kula ring is an institutional system –A given Trobriander knows his/her task, but neither knows nor understands the whole system. –It is connected to every aspect of Trobriand life: kinship, economics, politics, religion, magic and myth.

The Kula ring: Soulava (red)goes clockwise; Mwali (blue) goes counterclockwise Soulava Mwali

Why do they do it? It is extremely hard to construct the dugouts to cross the ocean. –It requires the kinship and political and status system be organized to do it. It is extremely scary to be out of sight of land in shark-infested waters. –Bodies of magic and myth motivate it. Someone on the East coast of Boyowa (NW) can’t get good Mwali any other way. But why should he care?

(Manifest) Functions of the Kula Individuals give valuable soulava so that their Kula-partners will later give them valuable mwali and vice versa. Why? Individuals engage in trading and in socializing when they make a Kula trip, –but they would not make the trip for those purposes. They get status from having good Soulava or Mwali –but those aren’t useful; why are they valued?

Latent Functions of the Kula The economic trading and socializing (wife- finding) that goes on during a Kula expedition are key to a village’s connection to the larger society, and the social integration of the Trobriand Islands as a whole. Functionalists argued that when you analyze any practice it is functionally connected to the whole culture and structure. Malinowski argued that such ritual exchanges promote social and normative integration, –and that all social institutions and cultural beliefs serve essential functions in this way.