The New World Order and Structural Functionalism (article) by Manes Pierre on AuthorsDen

Exploration of ideas among the social theorists on the new world order and structural functionalism. Pierre has offered his reflections on some of the ideologies. The New Order and Structural Functionalism As they always say, “Great men never die, their spirits live forever.” It could not be any truer than the evident reservoir of thoughts and ideologies that Lemert compiled in memory of the many men and women who have shaped the field of social sciences. I have come to the following understanding as it relates to The New Order and Structural Functionalism: (1) the role of the United States in the New World as an empire; (2) the challenges associated with the profile of being first; and (3) the effects of ideologies or propaganda on society. What is the role of the United States in the New World as an empire? I asked myself that question as I explored Althusser’s interpretation of structuralism. He referred to structuralism as a mode of production as it relates to slavery, feudalism, capitalism, socialism in terms of its global structure (Lecture, page 3). I kept on asking myself whether or not the United States, among its many rivals, was the better manager in terms of Althusser’s interpretation of structuralism. Further, Lemert (p.271) observed that only the United States was able to invent, produce, and deploy the ultimate weapon. Furthermore, he stated that scientific knowledge; inventive genius, productive capacity, and moral force were all fulfilled simultaneously by the United States. It appears to me that the United States has perfected the art of imperialism since 1945. It is at that time that the entire world recognized both her military power and her financial strength. Not only does the United States have to preserve its military power and financial strength in order to maintain its imperialistic status, but it also has to bear the challenges associated with the profile of being first. It appeared a strong diplomatic corps is as important as developing atomic bomb since it provides the necessary information about the status of the rival countries. For example, Kennan’s telegram in the early Cold War era provided the necessary ingredients for a well-balanced American foreign policy with regard to the former Soviet Union. That telegram was sine qua non to the United States since the latent and manifest soviet ideologies were growing and if the United States was not timely in promoting its own ideologies, the Soviet Union might have led, not only the Soviets but also other countries throughout the free world. It goes without saying that timely information contributed as well to the United States’ profile of being first. On a macro level, it still seems that the United States is maintaining her profile. However, on the micro level, I am gradually concerned with the growing welfare state inclination that she has espoused. Sometimes, I wonder if Bell’s premise could be true. That is, ideology is at its end. Is it possible that America’s thinkers are extinct or is America overwhelmed by the apparent welfare mentality of her citizens. In other words, are our ideological passions exhausted or totally depleted? Bell’s argument that ideology has ended is probably the result of an integrated action system combined with a strong social system. Parson has done a great job explaining how the action system coordinates all the cultural, personality and behavioral organisms of the constituents of a given society. However, the social system combines the above into an ideology or a common foundation for the micro operation of that given society. What are the effects of ideology or propaganda on society, especially on a diverse society such the United States? In reviewing Parson’s social system and action system, I reflect very much on the fabrics of the American society. I found based on my limited observation that the social and action systems described by Parson are not idealistic to multi-ethnic society such as the United States. The manifest and the latent actions of the non-dominant group within the system and subsystem are already pre-controlled by their own established norms of the dominant group. Bell outlined clearly the norms of the dominant group by saying that ideologies are designed to change people. So, Bell feels when peoples’ emotions are tapped, their reasoning changes accordingly. All in all, I must say there is a need to continuously remind the American leaders that short-term ideologies may work for a while. Therefore, it is necessary, as suggested by Althusser, to apply theory to truth because if a given theory has failed, the people’s emotions will no longer be utilized as a means of psychological manipulation. To deny the truth behind a given ideology to a given society is to set up that given society to some uncalculated latent behaviors. The United States is still enjoying the benefits of being first on a macro level. However, her status is questionable when her micro makeup is continuously expanding to a welfare state mentality. Moreover, can this country continue to maintain her structural functionalism to the detriment of the growing world masses? © 2001 Manes Pierre

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