Review article
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY TO THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF (DIS)INTEGRATION OF SOCIETY
Marko Mrakovčić
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Abstract
The contribution of sociological theory in understanding and conceptualizing the issue of (dis)integration of society is the thematic framework of this discussion. This paper is divided in two parts. The first part considers contributions of classical sociology in clarifying the process of (dis)integration of society. It emphasizes that Durkheim, Simmel and Weber have pointed out, within their theories, different dimensions of sociability necessary for understanding the process of (dis)integration, and that disparity of theoretical approaches of Classical authors has brought to the reductionist understanding of (dis)integration process in contemporary sociological approaches. The second part deals with the effort of the contemporary authors to overcome the reductionism mentioned above. It discusses the role that D. Lockwood's distinction on the systematic and social (dis)integration had in that attempt, and the ways in which A. Giddens, J. Habermas and N. Mouzelis used that distinction in order to create more appropriate theoretical–conceptual frameworks for sociological understanding and explication of the process of constitution, integration, transformation and disintegration of social life. The conclusion is that analytical distinction of the system and social integration is necessary for adequate explication of the mentioned processes. Such analytical distinction points out that these processes are simultaneously shaped by the pressure which arises from the state of normative and institutional structure of the social order and the reaction which users and collectives of different interest and identity have on that state.
Keywords
social order; social structure; social action; system integration; social integration
Hrčak ID:
119412
URI
Publication date:
19.12.2013.
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