Luhmann's theory of society
From Geography
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Definition
This theory is developed by Niklas Luhmann. Regarding this theory (Gren & Zierhoffer, 2003) the modern society has been divided into serveral functionally specialised subsystems. These subsystems cannot be replaced by the other subsystems and they exist seperated from each other. A consequense within modern societies is that there is no metaposition. There is no position which is representative for the whole society. A metaposition would give somebody the opportunity to observe a whole society or speak for a whole society. Within Luhmann's theory of society the aspect of functional differentiation plays a important role. The capacity of a society to deal and to solve its problems depends on the it. All problems need to be split and translated into issues that a certain system can handle. For example: the subsystem of Economy. This susbsystem can only deal and tackle problems as it is translated to its binary code (having money or not having money, economics benefit or economic costs). If not, the system will see these problems as 'noise' and they will be refained from such operations. On the other hand the functional differentiation does not determine the subsystems of a society to a rigide and static existence. On the contrary, the programs and codes are dynamic. They can be replaced by new ones. New systems can differentiate themselves while other systems may merge.
Ecological communication
The work of Niklas Luhmann Ecological Communication (1989) is one example of his work in withs he uses his theory of society. In Ecological Communication (1989) Luhmann tries to analyse the prospect of solving environmental problems within society. Again and again his analysis reveals a similar result: all subsystems of society are able to deal with problems of their environment insofar as these problems can be selected by the specific programs and submitted to the specific codes of a subsystem (Gren & Zierhoffer, 2003). So a society is dependend on his the capacity of its functional differenttiation.
References
- Gren, M. & Zierhofer, W. (2003). The unity of difference: a critical appraisal of Niklas Luhmann's theory of social system in the context of corperaity and spatiality. In: Environment & Planning A. Vol. 35. pp. 615-630.
