Short Essay on Three Approaches to ‘Social Order‘ – The concept of ‘social order’ has been explained and interpreted by different scholars in different ways. Three main approaches or explanations may be identified: (a) the utilitarian approach, (b) the cultural approach, and (c) the compulsion approach.
(a) The Utilitarian Approach suggests that it is in self-interest of all individuals to maintain social order. This is especially true in complex societies where division of labour is high and people are interdependent. Utilitarianism has more influence on economic theories rather than on sociological ones.
(b) The Cultural Approach stresses the role of shared norms and values. This approach is also known as “value-consensus approach”. Durkheim and Talcott Parsons have been the influential sociological exponents of value-consensus approach. This approach states that the ‘unity of society’ or its ‘order’ arises naturally from the relations among men. These relations of the people are governed by sets of shared rules and values. A network of rules and values stabilizes peoples’ relationships and contributes to the unity and solidarity of the group or society. The exercise of social control helps to sustain this solidarity.
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(c) The Compulsion Approach or Conflict View emphasises power and domination of various types — military, judicial, spiritual, and economic. It also stresses the capacity of those who dominate to enforce order. According to this approach, different people are placed in different positions in society. By virtue of these positions they develop different interests, different experiences and divergent outlooks on the world.
These differences become so extreme that any action or policy intended for the benefit of one group or category may threaten the well-being of others. Hence the unity of any particular society is, therefore, to be seen as an outcome of the struggle by those who want to maintain status quo against the interests of those who want change.
The exercise of social control here means the wish of one group to keep society in status quo, despite the desire of others for change. Among the sociological theorists, Karl Marx and Max Weber have been the chief exponents of this approach. But these theorists have not denied the contributory role of values.