Social Theory and Talcott Parsons in the 1980

Abstract

In recent years a revival has occurred in analytical and empirical studies related to the social theory of Talcott Parsons. The newer analytical work addresses the whole of Parsons' effort in the context of questions that bear on all social theory. Especially important works by Bershady, Habermas, Munch, and Alexander establish a new baseline for future analytical assessments of the theory. Much of the empirical work focuses on specification and assessment of theoretical propositions, particularly concerning the more normative components of social systems, and on general action complexes that synthesize social, cultural, personality, and behavioral aspects of major phenomena in modern societies.