Macrosociology is a large-scale approach to sociology, emphasizing the analysis of social systems and populations at the structural level, often at a necessarily high level of theoretical abstraction.[1] Though macrosociology does concern itself with individuals, families, and other constituent aspects of a society, it does so in relation to larger social system of which such elements are a part. The approach is also able to analyze generalized collectivities (e.g. "thecity", "thechurch").[2]
In contrast, microsociology focuses on the individual social agency. Macrosociology, however, deals with broad societal trends that can later be applied to smaller features of society, or vice versa. To differentiate, macrosociology deals with issues such as war as a whole; distress of Third-World countries; poverty on a national/international level; and environmental deprivation, whereas microsociology analyses issues such as the individual features of war (e.g. camaraderie, one's pleasure in violence, etc.); the role of women in third-world countries; poverty's effect on "the family"; and how immigration impacts a country's environment.[3]
A "society" can be considered as a collective of human populations that are politically autonomous, in which members engage in a broad range of cooperative activities.[3] The people of Germany, for example, can be deemed "a society", whereas people with German heritage as a whole, including those who populate other countries, would not be considered a society, per se.[3]
There are a number of theoretical strategies within contemporary macrosociology, though four approaches, in particular, have the most influence:
Idealist Strategy: Attempts to explain the basic features of social life by reference to the creative capacity of the human mind. "Idealists believe that human uniqueness lies in the fact that humans attach symbolic meanings to their actions."[4]
Materialist Strategy: Attempts to explain the basic features of human social life in terms of the practical, material conditions of their existence, including the nature of a physical environment; the level of technology; and the organization of an economic system.[3]
Functionalist Strategy (or structural functionalism): Functionalism essentially states that societies are complex systems of interrelated and interdependent parts, and each part of a society significantly influences the others. Moreover, each part of society exists because it has a specific function to perform in contributing to the society as a whole. As such, societies tend toward a state of equilibrium or homeostasis, and if there is a disturbance in any part of the society then the other parts will adjust to restore the stability of the society as a whole.[3]
Conflict Theoretical Strategy (or conflict theory): Rejects the idea that societies tend toward some basic consensus of harmony in which the features of society work for everyone's good. Rather, the basic structure of society is determined by individuals and groups acquiring scarce resources to satisfy their own needs and wants, thus creating endless conflicts.[3]
Historical macrosociology
Historical macrosociology can be understood as an approach that uses historical knowledge to try to solve some of the problems seen in the field of macrosociology.[3] As globalization has affected the world, it has also influenced historical macrosociology, leading to the development of two distinct branches:
Comparative and historical sociology (CHS): a branch of historical macrosociology that bases its analysis on states, searching for "generalizations about common properties and principles of variation among instances across time and space."[5] As of recently,[when?] it has been argued that globalization poses a threat to the CHS way of thinking because it often leads to the dissolution of distinct states.[3]
Political Economy of the World-Systems (PEWS): a branch of historical macrosociology that bases its analysis on the systems of states, searching for "generalizations about interdependencies among a system's components and of principles of variation among systemic conditions across time and space."[3]
Charles Tilly: developed theory of CHS, in which analysis is based on national states.
Immanuel Wallerstein: developed world systems theory, in which analysis is based on world capitalist systems.
Linking micro- and macro-sociology
Perhaps the most highly developed integrative effort to link micro- and macro-sociological phenomena is found in Anthony Giddens's theory of structuration, in which "social structure is defined as both constraining and enabling of human activity as well as both internal and external to the actor."[6]
Attempts to link micro and macro phenomena are evident in a growing body of empirical research. Such work appears to follow Giddens' view of the constraining and enabling nature of social structure for human activity and the need to link structure and action. "It appears safe to say that while macrosociology will always remain a central component of sociological theory and research, increasing effort will be devoted to creating workable models that link it with its microcounterpart."[6]
Francois, P., J. G. Manning, Harvey Whitehouse, Rob Brennan, et al. 2016. "A Macroscope for Global History. Seshat Global History Databank: A Methodological Overview." Digital Humanities Quarterly Journal 4(26).
March 08, 2023
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Macrosociology is a large scale approach to sociology emphasizing the analysis of social systems and populations at the structural level often at a necessarily high level of theoretical abstraction 1 Though macrosociology does concern itself with individuals families and other constituent aspects of a society it does so in relation to larger social system of which such elements are a part The approach is also able to analyze generalized collectivities e g the city the church 2 In contrast microsociology focuses on the individual social agency Macrosociology however deals with broad societal trends that can later be applied to smaller features of society or vice versa To differentiate macrosociology deals with issues such as war as a whole distress of Third World countries poverty on a national international level and environmental deprivation whereas microsociology analyses issues such as the individual features of war e g camaraderie one s pleasure in violence etc the role of women in third world countries poverty s effect on the family and how immigration impacts a country s environment 3 A society can be considered as a collective of human populations that are politically autonomous in which members engage in a broad range of cooperative activities 3 The people of Germany for example can be deemed a society whereas people with German heritage as a whole including those who populate other countries would not be considered a society per se 3 Contents 1 Theoretical strategies 2 Historical macrosociology 3 Linking micro and macro sociology 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingTheoretical strategies EditThere are a number of theoretical strategies within contemporary macrosociology though four approaches in particular have the most influence Idealist Strategy Attempts to explain the basic features of social life by reference to the creative capacity of the human mind Idealists believe that human uniqueness lies in the fact that humans attach symbolic meanings to their actions 4 Materialist Strategy Attempts to explain the basic features of human social life in terms of the practical material conditions of their existence including the nature of a physical environment the level of technology and the organization of an economic system 3 Functionalist Strategy or structural functionalism Functionalism essentially states that societies are complex systems of interrelated and interdependent parts and each part of a society significantly influences the others Moreover each part of society exists because it has a specific function to perform in contributing to the society as a whole As such societies tend toward a state of equilibrium or homeostasis and if there is a disturbance in any part of the society then the other parts will adjust to restore the stability of the society as a whole 3 Conflict Theoretical Strategy or conflict theory Rejects the idea that societies tend toward some basic consensus of harmony in which the features of society work for everyone s good Rather the basic structure of society is determined by individuals and groups acquiring scarce resources to satisfy their own needs and wants thus creating endless conflicts 3 Historical macrosociology EditHistorical macrosociology can be understood as an approach that uses historical knowledge to try to solve some of the problems seen in the field of macrosociology 3 As globalization has affected the world it has also influenced historical macrosociology leading to the development of two distinct branches Comparative and historical sociology CHS a branch of historical macrosociology that bases its analysis on states searching for generalizations about common properties and principles of variation among instances across time and space 5 As of recently when it has been argued that globalization poses a threat to the CHS way of thinking because it often leads to the dissolution of distinct states 3 Political Economy of the World Systems PEWS a branch of historical macrosociology that bases its analysis on the systems of states searching for generalizations about interdependencies among a system s components and of principles of variation among systemic conditions across time and space 3 Historical macrosociologists include 3 Charles Tilly developed theory of CHS in which analysis is based on national states Immanuel Wallerstein developed world systems theory in which analysis is based on world capitalist systems Linking micro and macro sociology EditPerhaps the most highly developed integrative effort to link micro and macro sociological phenomena is found in Anthony Giddens s theory of structuration in which social structure is defined as both constraining and enabling of human activity as well as both internal and external to the actor 6 Attempts to link micro and macro phenomena are evident in a growing body of empirical research Such work appears to follow Giddens view of the constraining and enabling nature of social structure for human activity and the need to link structure and action It appears safe to say that while macrosociology will always remain a central component of sociological theory and research increasing effort will be devoted to creating workable models that link it with its microcounterpart 6 See also Edit Society portalBase and superstructure Cliodynamics General systems theory Modernization theory Sociocybernetics Structure and agency Systems philosophyReferences Edit Calhoun Craig ed 2002 Macrosociology Dictionary of the Social Sciences New York Oxford University Press Scott John and Gordon Marshall eds 2000 Dictionary of Sociology New York Oxford University Press a b c d e f g h i j Lenski Gerhard 1982 Human societies An Introduction to Macrosociology McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 037176 8 Sanderson Stephen K 1988 Macrosociology An Introduction to Human Societies Harper amp Row Arrighi Giovanni 2000 Globalization and Historical Macrosociology Sociology for the Twenty First Century pp 117 33 a b Borgatta Edgar F 1992 Encyclopedia of Sociology 3 Simon amp Schuster Macmillan Further reading EditTilly Charles 1995 Macrosociology Past and Future In Newsletter of the Comparative amp Historical Sociology 8 1 amp 2 1 3 4 American Sociological Association Francois P J G Manning Harvey Whitehouse Rob Brennan et al 2016 A Macroscope for Global History Seshat Global History Databank A Methodological Overview Digital Humanities Quarterly Journal 4 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Macrosociology amp oldid 1081878458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
