The Functionalist Interdependence of Global Society

Bill Clinton describes global society in functionalist terms

Tags:  durkheim, theory, globalization, interdependence, structural functionalism, 00 to 05 mins
Year:  2009
Length: 3:25
Access:  YouTube

Summary:  Durkheim saw society as functioning like an organism with many inter-dependent parts, and he often referred to biological organisms as a metaphor for the functioning of society.  This is demonstrated here with Bill Clinton's interview on Larry King Live, where Clinton defines global society by its "interdependence" and our commonalities.  He even links human society to our similarity in DNA: "we don't have time to obsess about our differences any more...genetically we are all about 99.9% the same...from a political and social point of view that doesn't amount to a hill of beans."  Note that the entire clip is 4:50, but the relevant section on interdependence ends at 3:25. 

Submitted By:  Margaret Austin Smith

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