Emile Durkheim and Structural Functionalism
Emile Durkheim is considered one of the key proponents of modern sociology. In his works, he propels the prospects of structural functionalism in which he emphasizes social solidarity (Gofman 46). He views society as a complex system made up of different parts/institutions that work together to promote social cohesion and stability. In his ideas of social solidarity, Durkheim attempts the explanation of four main aspects of society, that is, what forms and holds society together, religion, deviance and crime and suicide. His first focus was on Division of labor that was evident in the society, and he wanted to know why. He was interested in the organization of society, hence the belief that every society has its way of enhancing solidarity (Carter 10). Therefore, the thesis of this essay revolves around answering the question, what forms and bound society together?
Mechanical Solidarity
According to Durkheim, in more primitive, small and early societies, mechanical solidarity keeps everyone together. In mechanical solidarity, there is very little division of labor, as everyone seems to be carrying out relatively similar tasks (Thijssen 457). For instance, in hunting and gathering societies, there exists no substantive division of labor and people engaged in hunting and gathering. The societies are not so complex, and people are bound together by class identification According to Durkheim, the shared values as well as standard symbols and systems of exchange functions as tools of cohesion in such societies.
In essence, the small rural villages share the same belief system and are bound together by an active collective consciousness, which Durkheim believes is necessary for the overall functioning of the society. As Durkheim postulates, every member of the society is bound to adhere to the shared societal norms, hence the instant/swift punishment of any form of disruption to the shared values. In his response to crime, Emile Durkheim argues that in mechanical solidarity, the society reacts to crime by punishing the perpetrators. In such society, collective consciousness is instrumental in every aspect of decision making.
Organic Solidarity
As the society grows complex, Durkheim suggests that organic solidarity characterizes it. He argues that such societies are unified by the division of labor resulting in people depending on each other (Pope et al. 682). In sociology, organic solidarity explains what binds more advanced industrialized societies together as one unit. In the "Division of Labor," Durkheim concludes that division of labor brings about a harmonious society bound together by solidarity (Merton 320). Society is likened to the human body made up of specific body organs functioning together to make the body alive. Therefore, in a society characterized by organic solidarity, there exists an interdependency created by specialization of roles in which institutions and persons become acutely dependent on each other.
The individual workers perform different specialized functions, without which society cannot function well. For instance, a manufacturing firm requires the services of a salesperson to sell its products. The sales person also depends on the firm for its products. The society is, therefore based on the assumption that no one can do everything, hence must rely on each other. Specialization of roles leads to the faster production of goods and services leading to sustainable development in otherwise industrialized society. For instance, Durkheim argues that towns and cities thrive through the individual's drives to stay in constant contact with one another helping each other to perform specific roles. For Durkheim, the division of labor is a positive initiative as it allows the society to thrive (Durkheim 210). It signifies that there are sufficient material resources to propel the society forward regarding development and growth.
Role of Deviance and Crime in maintaining solidarity
Emile Durkheim argues that crime and deviance serve social functions, hence are typical aspects of the society. Crime is simply a deviant behavior committed by an individual against the societal norms. Therefore, laws are created to punish or prevent criminal behavior in the society. Durkheim's primary focus is on social solidarity and cohesiveness. In his arguments, Durkheim argues that crime is present in all societies (Durkheim 65). Crime is a social necessity in every society. When a crime occurs, the members of the society punish the lawbreakers, thus getting the opportunity to reaffirm the society's social values and norms. In doing so, the society asserts their collective conscience and strengthens their social solidarity. Durkheim's argument on crime is crucial in our today's world as it encourages the society to unite in fighting crime. In so doing, the value of human life is established as the society develops stance against violence, conflicts, and terrorism.
In his extensive discussion, Durkheim asserts that law plays a crucial role in enhancing social solidarity. The role of law can be compared to that of the human nervous system that regulates various bodily functions so that they can work harmoniously. Likewise, according to Durkheim, the laws govern all parts of the society to operate together in agreement. Repressive laws are ordinary in societies characterized by mechanical solidarity (Pope, Whitney & Charles 363). The laws are integral to the notion of collective consciousness whereby everyone participates in judging and punishing crime. The severity of the crime is measured as damage to the entire society, hence calling for typically harsh forms of punishment. Societies under organic solidarity are characterized by restitutive laws since they are more advanced in regards to their composition. Restitutive laws work through specialized bodies such as lawmakers, courts, and judges (Pope et al. 684). The severity of the crime is determined through organized judicial proceedings where the judgment is based on tangible pieces of evidence presented by the conflicting parties.
Works Cited
Carter, Bradley W. Differentiation and social cohesion: returning to Durkheim for a unitary theory of deviance. Diss. Texas Tech University, 2000.
Durkheim, Emile. The division of labor in society. Simon and Schuster, 2014.
Gofman, Alexander. "Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity and social rules." The Palgrave Handbook of Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2014. 45-69.
Merton, Robert K. "Durkheim's division of labor in society." American Journal of Sociology 40.3 (1934): 319-328.
Pope, Whitney, and Barclay D. Johnson. "Inside organic solidarity." American Sociological Review (1983): 681-692.
Pope, Whitney, and Charles Ragin. "Mechanical solidarity, repressive justice, and lynching’s in Louisiana." American Sociological Review 42.2 (1977): 363-369.
Thijssen, Peter. "From mechanical to organic solidarity, and back: With Honneth beyond Durkheim." European Journal of Social Theory 15.4 (2012): 454-470.
