Sociological Perspectives: A Functionalist Analysis of Social Issues

This essay employs functionalist theory to analyze two contemporary social issues: the U.S. government's failure to meet the deadline for reuniting separated children at the U.S.-Mexico border and the opioid epidemic in America. The analysis utilizes the core tenets of functionalism, which posits that society is a system of interconnected parts working together for stability and order. In the context of immigration, the essay critiques the government's role and the dysfunction arising from its inability to act cohesively with other social agencies. Regarding the opioid epidemic, the essay highlights the failure of various social agents, including healthcare professionals and governmental bodies, to ethically manage and address the crisis, leading to social disorder. Ultimately, the essay underscores the importance of unity and ethical conduct among all social bodies to maintain balance and harmony within society, as emphasized by functionalist theory.

Running head: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
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The US will miss deadline to unite some- Functional theory
The article “The U.S. will miss deadline to unite some” says, the government will not be
able to reunite the children aged four and younger with their parents on the judgment deadline.
These children were separated from their parents at the U.S. - Mexico border as part of a
crackdown on illegal immigration in recent weeks. Due to reasons such as unable to detect the
location of the parents and few parents in the criminal custody, the federal officials are unable to
provide the precise number of children. However, the U.S. district judge has ordered the
government to act immediately doing the authorised procedure to reunite the families.
The functionalist theory states that society consists of different aspects, and the various
aspects contribute as a whole to the functioning of society (Delanty, 2013). According to Ritzer
and Stepnisky (2017) each element is interdependent and works collectively to make the society
function. In this way, the order of the society is maintained. In the very same way, the
government is acting as a body with other social agencies of the society. People have grievances
about the delay in the decision. However, the judiciary is taking decisions keeping the other
sectors in mind. To maintain harmony in the society, it is performing its duty precisely so that it
does not lead any other concerns and create any other social issue. In the case of social body
dysfunction, the whole society will cease remaining at peace.
A Crisis Years in the Making- Functional theory
The article “The Opioid Epidemic: A Crisis Years in the Making” is about the occurrence
of the opioid epidemic in America. There is an increase in death due to the overdose of opioids
in America. This dangerous drug has been available to the ones consuming in illegitimately

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causing death more than deaths caused due to another reason. Even babies, children, young
adults and adults are being affected. The president, Trump has declared it a public health
emergency. The healthcare professionals are accused, and the jails are filled with drug users.
Social media is acting as an agent in the drug dealing process.
According to Thompson, Hickey and Thompson (2016) the society is consisting of
different aspects which acting together makes the society function. This aspects when fail to
work together leads to social disorder. The relationship between all the aspects having
misbalance can raise a social problem (Barnes, 2013). The opioid drug is getting into the hands
of drug dealers who are providing it not as a medicine but as an addictive drug. Mishandling of
opioid is resulting from social agents, responsible for proper handling of the medication is not
performing ethically. The government is an essential part of the structure that plays an important
role and the president’s decision of calling the problem a public health emergency rather than
nation emergency shows the underperformance of the government body. Altogether, in the
macro level, the government, the health organisations, the people need to respond ethically and
in unity to overcome the social problem of the opioid epidemic. The basic concept the functional
theory is to the functioning of every social body unitedly which will provide an ultimate solution
to maintain the balance and harmony in the society.

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References:
Barnes, B. (2013). The elements of social theory. Routledge.
Delanty, G. (2013). Social theory in a changing world: Conceptions of modernity. John Wiley &
Sons.
Ritzer, G., & Stepnisky, J. (2017). Modern sociological theory. SAGE Publications.
Thompson, W. E., Hickey, J. V., & Thompson, M. L. (2016). Society in focus: An introduction
to sociology. Rowman & Littlefield.