The utopian vision of a peaceful world where all wars would end and violence would disappear was never realized in practice. Some argue that this is due to modern economic and political approaches that hinder human well-being and encourage unethical behavior. Others believe it is the nature of human interaction as a whole. Functionalists find and explain the problem by looking at society from a structural and systemic point of view, emphasizing the role of order and interdependence within the system (Fourie, 2016).
The utopian vision of a peaceful world where all wars would end and violence would disappear was never realized in practice. Some argue that this is due to modern economic and political approaches that hinder human well-being and encourage unethical behavior. Others believe it is the nature of human interaction as a whole. Functionalists find and explain the problem by looking at society from a structural and systemic point of view, emphasizing the role of order and interdependence within the system (Fourie, 2016).
They believe that crime and deviance play an important role in meeting the needs of society and preventing the breakdown of the established structure (Turner, 2017). Although operationalization theory has lost its widespread application and use, its ideas continue to guide many researchers today. This article analyzes the functionalist approach to the role of crime and deviance in society and assesses its implications in today’s world.
First, it is important to start with an overview of the theory. According to Turner (2017, p. 1), functionalism was the first important theoretical and methodological approach of sociology to understand the social universe, which invented the idea of structures and communication systems not only between people but also between other organisms. . The structure works to maintain the interaction necessary to maintain the political, economic and cultural balance of society (Fourie, 2016). In response to the increasing success of technology and engineering, early proponents of functionalism sought to connect and explain cultural aspects through natural sciences such as biological theory (Turner, 2017). As a result, three fundamental social needs of operation, regulation and distribution emerged, while governments had to implement them (Turner, 2017). The problems of crime and deviance arise directly from the components of the functional system that are responsible for guaranteeing continued functionality and well-being.
Next, the concepts of crime and deviation must be classified and distinguished. Scholars and theorists classify the two as irrelevant or inappropriate to established systems. For example, Douglas (1966) (cited in Asquith, 2017, p. 1) described deviance as “the inappropriateness of a thing”. Crime is also a transgression and violation of social and cultural values, but the difference lies in their harm (Little, 2016). Although deviance and crime are often linked, it has far more serious consequences that cannot be tolerated (Asquith, 2017). The lines separating these concepts are fluid and difficult to draw. Applying measures to classify deviance and crime is not only difficult, but also impossible to create a universal standard due to the many different cultures and communities (Little, 2016). However, functionalist researchers were able to relate these norm violations to the theory of social control and order.
Despite the growing controversy, crime and deviation are crucial for the operation of the operational system. Many question the importance of such harmful behavior to the state of social order as presented and considered non-sociological and anti-sociological (Cohen, 2018). While this is true in theory, people reject practical order and control in operation, where crime and deviance reinforce the importance of structure and maintain balance (Asquith, 2017). In theory, they play a central role in the regulatory and coordinating aspects of society. By allowing certain violations of rules and laws, governments can shape and control the general well-being of people by fulfilling their oversight and coordination responsibilities in the form of various sanctions (Little, 2016). In addition, some researchers argue that people living in nature enjoy and are interested in observing others, violating established cultural norms (Little, 2016). Crime and deviance are, in theory or practice, integral parts of a functional system that cannot be replaced.
However, several modern management systems challenge the ideas presented in operation. Many countries report low crime rates each year and generally provide an exceptionally safe environment in which to live. For example, Iceland was recently declared the safest country in the world (Craggs and Marcus, 2020). Their main criteria were the low number of murders, people imprisoned and the threat of terrorism (Craggs and Marcus, 2020). Like many other governments, Iceland promotes a policy of freedom and mutual care, so it is hard to believe that the country would adopt and accept a policy of overcoming crime and deviance.
Furthermore, as the functional theory declined in popularity, modern scholars criticize it from several aspects. As seen in practice, proponents of functionalism tried to connect sociology with the natural sciences and create a structure that would identify whether society is functioning or not (Turner, 2017). However, the modern approach changes the perspective, shifting the focus from the structure to the society itself (Chattoe-Brown, 2019). It is argued that theory should not try to make a system work in society, but instead develop a system that meets the needs of society (Chattoe-Brown, 2019). Unfortunately, the utopian model of a crime-free planet is impossible to implement in practice. Even the safest countries, such as Iceland, which promote anti-trafficking policies, regularly experience crime and deviance.
The operation of the interdependence of the operation and functioning of society and crime and deviation can be accepted, making many believe in this approach. Because the system promotes order and control, these violations of norms serve as a means of political empowerment. Modern scholars criticize the theory because it only cares about the system itself and rejects the human aspect. Others, on the other hand, support functionalism, describing the need for order through human nature. Although crime and deviance are unlikely to disappear in the future, governments should not allow them to simply introduce new laws and sanctions. Although the link between disobedience and social order is undeniable, new approaches must be created to help the world achieve the ideals of a sustainable existence free of war and crime.
