Brexit and Functionalism: Societal Consequences and Perspectives

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of Brexit through the lens of Functionalism, a sociological perspective. It begins with an introduction to the concept of sociological perspectives and specifically focuses on Functionalism, explaining its core tenets and how it views society as a complex system. The essay then delves into the contemporary social issue of Brexit, defining the term and outlining the key events and decisions surrounding the UK's departure from the European Union. The main body of the essay applies the Functionalism perspective to Brexit, examining the potential positive and negative impacts on various aspects of UK society, such as employment, healthcare, and social structures. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of both remaining in and leaving the EU, considering how these changes might affect different societal functions. The conclusion summarizes the findings, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of Brexit and its implications for the UK's social fabric, concluding that Brexit will have both positive and negative impacts on society. The essay references sociological theories and provides a well-structured analysis of a contemporary social issue.

ESSAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ESSAY PLAN.................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................2
Contemporary social issue of Brexit............................................................................................2
Functionalism sociological perspective.......................................................................................2
Strength and weakness of Functionalism sociological perspective.............................................2
Explanation of contemporary social issue of Brexit though Functionalism sociological
perspective...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

ESSAY PLAN
This essay will be explaining contemporary issue of Brexit with the help of
Functionalism sociological perspective. This essay provides a brief introduction of the essay and
sociological perspective chosen for explaining contemporary issue will also be explained. Then
overview of Contemporary social issue of Brexit has been explained, after explaining the issue
Functionalism sociological perspective with its strengths and weakness has been explained. After
this, using Functionalism sociological approach contemporary issue of Brexit with its advantages
and disadvantages have been explained. Lastly overall conclusion of this essay has been
provided using functional sociological perspective i.e. whether this contemporary issue of Brexit
is a correct decision or not.
For completion of this essay things learned in other units have helped in explaining
sociological theory that was most appropriate for explaining this contemporary issue in a proper
manner. Knowledge gained from other units helped in understanding that there are majorly three
different types of sociological perspectives that can be used to understand different kinds of
contemporary issues. Some of them are applied to macro environment whereas some of them are
applied to micro environment. This information was much useful in completion of this essays it
helped in developing abase for this essay and further helped in structuring this overall essay in a
proper and effective manner.
ESSAY
INTRODUCTION
Sociological perspective can be defied as a kind of view that society background
influence attitude, behaviour and life changes of people. It does not focus upon an individual but
focuses upon social being deeply enmeshed in society (Ciobanu, Androniceanu and Lazaroiu,
2019). There are various kinds of social perspectives that can help in exampling surrounding of
an individual and ways in which it impacts an individual as well as society in both positive and
negative manner. this essay will lay emphasis upon contemporary issue of Brexit though
Functionalism sociological perspective.
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MAIN BODY
Contemporary social issue of Brexit
Brexit is a term which is used for Britain exit in which United Kingdom has taken a
decision of leaving European Union. It has recently been a topic of debate considering
uncertainty of financial issues and other uncertainties of UK that would impact UK after leaving
EU (Aniche, 2020). It was seen as a challenge that can help in addressing some old challenges
like increasing jobs for localities etc. This decision was taken in June, 2016 and voting on this
decision was done in which leaving EU side won by 52 percent. But this amendment took place
in March 2019 and from 31 January 2020, UK stopped being a member of EU.
Functionalism sociological perspective
Functionalism is a kind of sociological perspective that sees society as a complex system
whose parts work together for promotion of stability and solidarity. This approach focuses upon
a society though a macro level orientation and broadly focuses upon social structure that helps in
shaping the society as a whole (Rusu, 2020). This theory says that all aspects of society serves a
purpose. This theory sees government and politics as a way to enforce norms and regulate
conflict. It further helps in seeing active social change and undesirable because it is a forced
change because of which undesirable things can occur and compensated for.
Strength and weakness of Functionalism sociological perspective
Some of the main strengths of this theory are: it helps in explaining ways in which
conflict within a society though socialization and social control can be controlled and minimized
in an effective and efficient manner (Ormerod, 2020)(Payne, 2020). It further helps in explaining
ways in which different parts of a social system can be maintained as a whole in a proper and
effective manner. It also helps in explaining ways in which a society can adapt to overcome
economic and other changes.
This theory also has its own weaknesses as well. Some of the main weakness of this
theory are as follows: this theory hides conflicting interest that are been hidden in ideological
manipulation. Any kind of economic changes that are being caused by internal contradictions of
present social order due to this capitalism is doomed.
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Explanation of contemporary social issue of Brexit though Functionalism sociological
perspective
Functionalism is a sociological theory that can be used to explain contemporary issue of
Brexit in a proper manner. As per this theory different organizations work together for a
productive society. Government makes laws and other departments such as police, healthcare
etc. follow those rules. This sociological perspective explains that Brexit has a strong and vital
role in society that will impact in both positive and negative manner (Hakan, 2019). There are
various kinds of organizations of government in UK that works together in order to ensure that
society and economy works together and well together. Exit of Britain from EU will impact the
society in many ways. Like travelling cost of people will increase. Some of the main advantages
that UK will have being a part of EU are: travelling cost for people will reduce, trading for UK
will become much easier. It will further help in reducing overall cost of food and will further
help in making availability of food and beverages much easier. Being a part of European Union
has further helped UK in enhancing overall quality of their healthcare system because most of
the qualified doctors that NHS has in UK are from other countries of European Union because of
which UK has successfully been able to provide best doctors and high- quality products and
services to patients in a proper and effective manner.
But according to this Functionalism sociological perspective exit of Britain from European
Union can provide UK with various other benefits that being a part of European Union will not
provide. British people get extremely a smaller number of jobs as compared to other nation
people because lots of people of other nations of EU apply for job (Hakan, 2019). Not being a
part of EU will directly help UK to create a greater number of jobs for local people. Being a part
of EU has resulted in UK being a crowded country and not being a part of EU will directly help
then in increasing number of housing for localities.
This explanation though functionalism sociological perspective Brexit is advantageous for
UK and will be beneficial for all the functions of UK. But both advantages and disadvantages of
UK being a part of EU helps in explains that society of UK will have both advantage and
disadvantage when Britain exists from EU. There will be several kinds of changes that will be
required to be brought within different functions of society of UK if they want that these
functions should have positive impact on society.
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CONCLUSION
From the above essay it has been summarized that there are various kinds of sociological
perspectives that can help in understanding society in a proper and appropriate manner. Brexit is
a contemporary issue that can impact whole society both positively and negatively. It has been
concluded that Brexit will have both positive and negative impact on society of UK. All the
functionalities of society of UK will get disturbed and complicated due to this. There will be
requirement of bringing changes within different functions o UK. Changes with government law,
legislation and regulation will also be required.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aniche, E.T., 2020. The Brexit: A Massive Setback for European Union and a Lesson for
African Integration. Chinese Political Science Review. 5(1). pp.13-30.
Ciobanu, A., Androniceanu, A. and Lazaroiu, G., 2019. An integrated psycho-sociological
perspective on public employees’ motivation and performance. Frontiers in
Psychology. 10. p.36.
Hakan, C., 2019. The Cost of Brexit: Neo-Functionalism Strikes Back. Romanian Journal of
European Affairs. 19(1). pp.65-78.
Ormerod, R., 2020. The history and ideas of sociological functionalism: Talcott Parsons, modern
sociological theory, and the relevance for OR. Journal of the Operational Research
Society. 71(12). pp.1873-1899.
Payne, G., 2020. Social divisions as a sociological perspective. Social Divisions: Inequality and
Diversity in Britain. p.347.
Rusu, M.S., 2020. Street Names through Sociological Lenses. Part I: Functionalism and Conflict
Theory. Social Change Review, 1(ahead-of-print).
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