Functionalism & Systems Theory Reading

Functionalism and Systems Theory Reading Name Institution Course and Code Professor Date Functionalism and Systems Theory Reading Sociological functionalism emphasizes the role of societal institutions in maintaining social stability, equilibrium, and order. Law enforcement is no different from any other organization; they all work together to improve society. On the other side, systems theory posits that human civilization is a complex network of interdependent parts, where alterations to any one-part impact the entire system. From this vantage point, the police force is one social institution that influences and is influenced by others. Functionalism holds that the primary purposes of police are maintaining law and order, public safety, and the application of criteria preserving societal cohesiveness. Oriola (2020) claims that police play a vital role in modern society, particularly in maintaining the social contract between the government and its citizens. Without law enforcement, society can have increased crime, anarchy, and instability. Functionalists contend that by ensuring individuals respect the laws, police play a vital role in preserving social order. Systems theory sees society as a linked structure whereby changes in one component of the system affect the whole network. This helps one to appreciate Oriola's case for police budget cuts. In the article, defunding the police suggests distributing funds to other spheres of the socia...