Functionalists believe that everything in society has a function and that everything has to work together in order to make society harmonious. Other theorists such as Marxists have different views on culture. I will be exploring whether the functionalist theory is what actually happens in society or if other theories, like Marxism, are more closely related.
Durkheim believed that the key features of society is orderly and harmonious. He argues that this is because of shared culture showing that he believed that everything with in society does in fact have a purpose and when together is orderly. Another belief of Durkheim is that society and culture were more important than an individual person. His belief was based on an observation based on society existing before a person is born and after an individual dies. Durkheim also noted that modern industrial societies are characterised by social order rather than chaos and anarchy. Many functionalists see culture as bonding individuals together. Life is seen to be patterned and predictable by many functionalist but Durkheim however, believes that it was values of consensus that brings together members in society.
Durkheim has been criticised for exaggerating cultural consensus and social order. On the other hand, Durkheim can be praised for correctly suggesting that there is a main culture that is vastly shared by a many people in society.
The opposite of the functionalist approach is Marxism. Marxism focuses on the economic organisation of modern societies divided by class inequalities, income and power. Social class refers to the wealth of the family. Karl Marx saw capitalist societies as characterised by class inequality and conflict. One group called the bourgeoisies owned and controlled the means of production, the factories, raw materials, and investment capital and exploited the proletariat also known as the working class in order to make a greater profit.
Marxism also has criticisms. People argue that the Marxist theory may be guilty of exaggerating social class as the main source of conflict in societies. There is evidence that gender, religion, ethnicity and nationalism are as important as a causes of inequality. Marxism also assumes that the working class are the victims of the upper class’ culture and ideology.
Overall, different groups and theorists have different approaches and views on how society and culture function. Functionalists see culture as everything having a purpose and see it as working orderly and harmoniously. However, Marxists see culture, as being separated into two completely different groups one being the bourgeoisies, the upper class, and the proletariat, the working class.
