Contemporary Sociological Issues

Unit 47: Contemporary
Sociological Issues

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Investigation of construction of social structures in society and their relationship with
agency.....................................................................................................................................1
P2) Illustration of tensions between structure and agency.....................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................4
P3) Key factors that influence the development of individuals in society, including key
theories of socialisation..........................................................................................................4
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................5
P4) Political, social and economic constructs used to categorise society..............................5
P5) Reviewing how current trends in societal change might shape social expectations........7
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................8
P6) Range of contemporary issues in society and their impact upon public service.............8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
The Contemporary Sociological Issues mainly consists of those factors and issues that
represent the undesirable conditions and worst scenario that is opposed by whole society or a
specific part of society that is affecting their life of operations in a negative way. The main
examples and issues of Contemporary Sociological Issues consists of National identity problem,
Corruption among influential branch, in equality between wealthy and poor, racial discrimination
and many other social issues (Spinardi, Bisby and Torero, 2017). The current assignment is
based on Crown Commercial Service which is an executive agency and trading fund of the
Cabinet Office of the UK Government. This public service orgnisation is mainly responsible for
managing the procurement of goods and services along with increasing savings for the taxpayer
through centralising buying requirements and leading effective on procurement policy on the
behalf of the government.
The current assignment consist of investigation about the construction of social structures in
society and their relationship with agency along with key influences on the construction of social
structures. Beside this, discussion about the Key factors that influence the development of
individuals in society, including key theories of socialisation is also there along with political,
social and economic constructs that are used to categorise society. At last, Review of current
trends in societal change with reference to cultural values and beliefs in society and
contemporary issues in society and their impact on public services is also forms a part of this
assignment.
LO 1
P1) Investigation of construction of social structures in society and their relationship with agency
Structure refers to the recurrent arrangements, which are effectively patterned and have an
impact on the opportunities and choices within a society in a positive and negative manner. On
the other hand, Agency refers to the individual capacity in order to act effectively without any
interdependence towards making free choices.
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It is imperative to evaluate and investigate the construction of social structures and the
relationship of the same with agency as this would be providing an effective insight within the
societal operations effectively (Beckford, 2019).
Firstly it is imperative to dive into the long standing debate of structure vs. agency, which
is by far one of the biggest unresolved elements into the social construction of the society. This
could be very well understood and analysed as an issue associated with socialisation as a factor,
acting against elements like autonomy, towards identifying whether a person functions as free
agent or in control of the social structure.
There have been various theories and key thinkers who have contributed towards this
debate and have tried to develop a prominent relationship between the structure and agency. For
example, the modern social theorists who have had their theories around 1990s provide a balance
between both these positions. For instance, according to their theories, agency, as well as
structure is quite complimentary to one another. As an example, human behaviour is influenced
by structure and individuals are very much capable towards bringing positive changes in social
structures which they are abide by.
Structuration is one such theory which could help in better understanding the above
perspectives of key thinkers on agency and structure. This theory is directed towards avoidance
of extremes of agent or structural identification. Moreover, the agency and structure must be
balanced as per this theory which also has been referred to duality of structure. Hence, this
theory makes an attempt towards reproduction of social system dependent upon the analysis of
agents and structures, without providing primal treatment to any of these factors.
Therefore, based on this theory and above discussions, it could be claimed that the
structure and agency could be very well be complimentary, depending upon the access to power
and autonomy of decision making provided to an individual. Hence, in terms of construction of
social structures in relation to society, capabilities within humans are determinant factor towards
the relationship of these structures with agency. Therefore, in order to analyse the same in an
effective manner, it is imperative that an effective approach in future is adopted that is free of
certain constraints and orders that refrains individual acts and choices. Moreover, a well an
effective construction of social structure depends heavily on the society, along with the power
and autonomy which is shared by its individuals.
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