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consensus theories (NEW RIGHT (liberal economists = capitalist societies…
consensus theories
NEW RIGHT
liberal economists = capitalist societies work best when there is a free market - state should avoid interfering with the economy
Smith (1723-1790) = this should be left to the hidden hand of the market and determined by the law of supply and demand
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Murray (1984) = in both Britain and USA excessive government intervention to try and alleviate poverty by providing the poor with benefits led to dependancy culture
dependance culture led to the underclass = people separated from the rest of society and lacking a commitment to the norms of the wider society
Murray later blamed rising levels of crime in Britain and the USA on the underclass suggesting that the growth of lone parents meant that a children were bought up with no role models or discipline
poor people find themselves dependant on benefits, not through choice but circumstances beyond their control
evaluation = criticism, not based on clear sociological evidence; murrays view that underclass are irresponsible
FUNCTIONALISM
Durkeim (1858-1917)
members of society need to feel a sense of social solidarity, belonging, shared identity
concerned that in larger modern societies - people lose sense of belonging and become anonymous individuals uncertain about how to behave or what their roles are in society - ANOMIE
Parsons (1902-79)
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key institutions = family, education, media, peer groups and religion --- transmit shared norms and values to each new generation ensuring stability and continuity in society
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evaluation = criticism, fails to explain conflicts in society and tends to assume that society operates for everyones benefit equally
in a multicultural society, there may be conflicts between different religious, ethnic, cultural groups
- emphasise idea that human societies work best when their members agree on how society should be organised and share common norms and values
- makes social lie more predictable
- social order
- how different social institutions in society work together to ensure that members of society get things they need
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