Social and political theory: concepts and applications

Social and Political History

How do the functionalist and conflict theories relate to the conceptualizations of government and sovereignty presented by Heywood? How much is enough government? What level of government do we need to get our collective business done? How much sovereignty is appropriate for the American government to have, particularly in view of terrorist threats in the post 9/11 environment? When does government and sovereignty interfere with the full functioning of individuals in a free society? When and how might government be used to favor particular groups within the social order at the expense of others? How might this kind of favoritism be covered up? How does politics reflect, magnify and sometimes even hid social conflict?

Answer:

The social or "conflict" theory is one that is based on "how society motivates people and places in their proper position in the stratification process. The political or "functionalist" theory focuses on individuals need to be induced to hold the high-ranking position in society. It is impossible to hold these two theories as being autonomous of each other without a resolution of logical separation which cannot be applied in separation of government from politics as they are so interrelated and vitally dependent one on the other. Although the view of each of these theories is slightly differing from the other, in actuality government and politics, or the social-political are interwoven and cannot be held as true separate entities.

Americans want the government to take care of collective business effectively without becoming a large impersonal mechanistic and impersonal entity that pushes decisions and law upon the citizens. Protection without oppression is the desired and Constitutionally pursued goal of Americans. The aftermath of the 9/11 event brought with it a huge mechanism of government legislation enacting the Patriot and Homeland Security Acts and the accompanying violation of the rights of American citizens. Although Americans do invest power in the leaders of the government, the "taking" of power by the present administration has become unacceptable to most Americans who want protection "from" terrorists instead of becoming "suspected" terrorist themselves. Americans desire a "just" or "balanced" form of government rule and not the invasive and violating standards of the Patriot and Homeland Security Acts recently implemented in the United States.

In a sense, the "protection" afforded our leaders in the present administration has incurred daily violation of American citizens since the implementation of the legislation passed since 9/11. For example, the recent G8 Summit in the Georgia Islands should not have caused the massive descent of Homeland Security complete with Humvees and machine guns on the small town of New Brunswick, Georgia. This is one example of the abuse of power as well as the interference with the full-functioning of individuals in society because of the sovereignty of the government.