Moral consensus is vital for maintaining order and stability in the belief that shared values will lead to this with the family playing a vital role on issues such as stability of personality and socialization
Ceremonies and rituals are important cornerstones of functionalist society. Prime examples are The Church, Monarch and government which are institutions that have become interdependent on one another and form the very DNA of functionalism. According to Durkheim, a functionalist society is metaphorically compared to the human body,”….like a body consisting of various specialized parts; the brain, heart, lungs, liver etc. with each contributing to sustaining the continuing life of the organism.” He elaborates further by stating that these work in harmony with each other and if they didn’t the system would collapse.
Marxist theory Karl Marx 1818-1883
Marxist theories became popular in the 1970’s as there grew a gradual realization that Functionalism had its faults and flaws.
Marxists would not accept the preceding paragraphs on functionalist examples of society. They argue there are very real and basic conflictions between different groups that are permanently present and far from temporary as functionalists claim.
Marxist society espouses that there are two main classes in all but the most primitive of societies. The Bourgeoisies and the Proletariat and that it is peoples proximity to capital and the means of production, land, plants factories etc. that defines the classes and dictates where they in the hierarchy. Conflict, it is argued arises from this where the workers sell themselves and their labour to survive but realise wealth is created by them but not fairly apportioned. The surplus they create is held onto by the Bourgeoisie, the profit which is then turned into capital. Contradiction equals conflict.
It can be further argued that to exist we embark on a relationship to ensure production. and that the forces of production and the social relationship is the foundation of infrastructure in society which is inter-dependent with superstructure. That any change in the infrastructure will affect the superstructure. Marxists believe that all societies contain contradictions exemplified by the factory/foundry owners enriching themselves at the expense of the workers, on the backs of others. This was a position the Marxists believed could not continue. A large number of workers account for production but conflictingly the capital and profit is owned by an individual or shareholders. Capitalism survives because of the role of superstructure which in turn is formed by its infrastructure they argue and that the Bourgeoisie have monopolized political power, the judicial system and other institutions to exert control. This power is legitimized by the ruling elite who then indoctrinate (with a false ideology) the proletariat by providing a false picture to prevent them seeing the contradictions and thus creating a false consciousness. Hence, conflict
CONCLUSION
Functionalism Consensus Theory highlights and accentuates the Protestant work ethic of shared values and normative behavioural patterns such as hard work, harmony, cohesion integration and equilibrium
Marxism highlights the differences and contradictions between groups and individuals and uses concepts such as control, coercion, power, constraint, discensus and change. That conflict is inevitable
