Structural-Functionalism and Social Movement in New Order
By : La Ode Rifaldi Nedan Prakasa
International Relation President University 2017
If we have chosen the position in
life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down,
because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no
petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our
deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be
shed the hot tears of noble people
Introduction
For
three decades, Suharto as a President
of Indonesia stifled every attempt to organize opposition. Monopolizing political power enabled Suharto to stay in
office longer than any president in the world.[1] It also created a
prolonged period of political stability, which helped to facilitate steady
economic growth for many years (Bourchier, 2007) . But the price of this stability was terror
and the piecemeal destruction of democratic political life.
Basically, Soeharto
was able to bring Indonesia to a surplus of rice. Economic development is also
increasing but the problem is the unequal development. In other words, rich
officials will get richer and the poor will be poorer. Further, The
Suharto colonies had committed many human rights cases of abuses
at that time in order to defend their positions and ABRI pairs of weapons for
anyone who dared to oppose.
Because of that in Indonesia, there has been
a massive social movement conducted by students in demanding the demise of
Suharto in May 1998. This movement is called the reform movement for wanting a
change. (Urbaningrum, 1999) .
Using concordance theory, which
is focused on the theory of structural-functionalism and conflict theory to see what exactly happened in new order. This paper focuses on what kind of theory is used in
the new order? Why is it no longer time to keep political stability in Indonesia
in the new order? What encourages the occurrence of social
movements in the last new
order? This paper argues there was something wrong in political system in new
order which is involvement in socio-political life
Structural
Functionalism in New Order
Functionalism, also called structural-functionalism
theory, sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet
the biological and social needs of individuals who make up that society. It is
the oldest of the main theories of sociology. In fact, its origins began before
sociology emerged as a formal discipline. It grew out of the writings of
English philosopher and biologist Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) who likened
society to a human body (OpenStax, 2013) .
He argued that just
as the various organs of the body work together to keep the entire system
functioning and regulated. A structural functionalism theory called once a dominant
theory in Sociology. However, it now fades into time, and there are theories
that are more suited to the present circumstances (Lenski, 2005) . However, this
theory remains interesting to learn because it is one of the foundations of
theories that then emerge.
A Case that has occurred in Indonesia, the era of
Soeharto Presidency in Indonesia that is the new order, this is evidence of the
existence of this structural functionalism theory. As the new order era,
everything went like a system (Kurniawan, 2014) . In new order
society perceived as an interrelated system which cooperates based their own
function, then the class and structure that appeared ware seen as a not
problematic thing.
For example, in the new order government system, those who
were given the role of farm laborers or factory workers, were seen as a role
capable of supporting the progress of the system. In practice, however, they
often get discriminated because of their social position and status in society.
This is inconsistent with system theory which sees any role and position
acquired, contributes to equilibrium.[2]
Social
Movement in New Order
Conflict theory looks at society as a
competition for limited
resources. Conflict theory sees society as being made up of individuals who
must compete for social,
political, and material resources such as political power, leisure time, money,
housing, and entertainment.
Social structures and organizations such as religious groups, governments, and corporations reflect this competition in
their inherent inequalities (OpenStax, 2013) . in
conflict theory, Marx shows that in society, it consists of the class of
capital owners (the bourgeoisie) and the working class poor (the proletarian
class). Both classes are in a hierarchical social structure, in which the
bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat in the production process.
During the Soeharto era, we as a society were made
unaware of the behavior of the government which at that time was categorized as
upper class and we were lower class. So that people are blind and dumb by the
system they have created, cannot behave freely, there is silence of aspiration,
a little voice directly slaughtered and disappeared, the people starved due to
the monetary crisis that hit the people while still obliged to pay taxes that
increasingly choke the people, various misleading government contributions in
the future.
With Soeharto's massive exploitation of the Indonesian
people, made some of the people aware of what Suharto had done. This led them
to form a social movement initiated by Amin Rais with the aim of reforming the
government toward a better concept of social change in Indonesian society, this reached its peak during a massive demonstration in 1998. The existing
system is no longer able to control the individuals that should be the output
of the system. (Urbaningrum, 1999) . This is classified
as the struggle of the proletariat (lower classes) against the bourgeoisie
(upper class).
Conclusion
Structural-functionalism and
conflict theory, These theories focus on different values, assume different things about
society and differ in their explanations of power. Structural-functionalism approach views society as
a complex, but the
interconnected system, where each part works together as a functional whole and conflict theory views society as a system
of groups that are not equal, and therefore consistently generate conflict and
change.
The weaknesses of structural-functionalism Power is held only by certain people and at the same time
produces individuals who are subject to the system held by such a group of
people. Structural-functionalism
is oriented and views society as a static thing. functionalism is unable to explain social
change because it focuses so intently on social order and equilibrium in
society. The collapse of
the new order is also one example of how a system that is unable to defend
itself eventually breaks down. The
reason why conflict theory attempts to counter ideas from structural
functionalism because while functionalism emphasizes stability,
conflict theory emphasizes change. According to the conflict perspective,
society is constantly in conflict over resources, and that conflict drives
social change.
[1] Monopolize
is to have,
control, or make use
of fully, excluding others. Dictionary of the English Language,
Fifth Edition
[2] Equilibrium
a stable state in which all parts of a healthy society are working together
properly
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