Antropologische vergeetachtigheid. Robert K. Mertons transactionalisme 'avant la lettre'

Samenvatting

Robert K. Merton's analysis of political machines (On Theoretical Sociology: Five Essays, Old and New is a functionalist study of political anthropology, in many ways similar to Fredrik Barth's transactional analyses (eg, Political Leadership among Swat Pathans, London School of Economics Monograph No.19, 1959). Merton's explanation for the existence of the "machines" starts from the assumption of rational choices & transactions. His analysis demonstrates that while manifest functions legitimate the existence of an institution such as a political machine, latent functions explain that existence. This difference provides an interesting starting point for the study of institutions that do not appear to satisfy their official, manifest functions, yet continue to exist. 16 References. M. Barker