The functionalist
theory lays a fundamental
purpose of the government
which spans across; planning,
meeting societal needs, directing society, and maintaining law and order. Functionalists deem the government to have a defined role in regulating conflict and enforcing norms. The conflict theory that was developed by Karl Marx defines the society as a stage for strife and exploitation. The significant difference between the conflict and the functionalist approach emerges in the sense that functionalism views the societal structure and power as being formed along the lines of interdependence, cooperation, and shared values and goals. Whereas conflict theory asserts a basis of structures in the society as resulting from competition for influence and wealth among societal groups.
