Theoretical introduction to the research project integration and disintegration processes in hungarian society

Abstract

Abstract Our paper is part of the theoretical-historical introduction of an overall research project. Social integration has been placed in the centre, because, on the one hand, this concept can help grasp the dynamic, constructive, and interactive characteristics of social relationships better than the traditional system of ideas based on stratification or class structure. On the other hand, integration is an especially multi-faceted notion, as it is suitable for investigating the basic questions of sociology (“the problem of social order”), the questions researchable using middle range theories, and it could serve as a guideline for empirical investigations as well. The paper tried to ground the theory of the research project in the history of the sociology. Because, with a little exaggeration „everybody” has been engaged the question, we had to select the potential authors. Three authors whose ideas complete each other as pieces of a mosaic have been selected. Talcott Parsons’ attempt to integrate the system-view with the voluntaristic approach is inspiring until now. Jürgen Habermas tried to critically improve this combination. Anthony Giddens scrutinized a basic problem of social theory, namely, the meaning and implication of the premodern-modern transition. Keywords: integration, system, action, modernisation, Talcott Parsons, Jürgen Habermas, Anthony Giddens