Tsymbal T. Images of Social Order in Contemporary Theories of Globalization

The dissertation is aimed at sociological interpretation of the concept "globalization" and elucidation of its conceptual implications for the structural-functionalist image of social order in sociology. In reviewing contemporary theories of globalization the author points out the lack of consensus concerning the definition of globalization among social scientists. The disagreement is related to multidimensional and multifaceted nature of globalization itself, as well as to ideological struggles that surround it. The issue is solved through the author's setting forth the concept of emergent properties of the global social system. Such properties are unique to the global system and define its specific nature in relation to other social systems. They include: (1) coextensiveness of the global social system with human ecumene; (2) its loss of possibility for extensive economic development; (3) impossibility to participate in a competitive transpolity; (4) disappearance of "others" for it; and (5) impossibility to externalize economic, social, and political costs of its mode of organization. By finding such properties, it is argued that global social system is an exceptional social system which will arguably create specific constraints upon the structuration of social order within it. The constrains can be used to predict general outline of the forthcoming global social order. Close study of traditional sociological theorizing reveals that its fundamental concepts are basically relevant for analysis under global circumstance. Due to this fact it becomes possible to connect the concepts of globalization and social order. By means of such a juxtaposition it becomes obvious that structural-functionalist image of social order will undergo five loosely described changes: (1) structurally conditioned lack of integration; (2) limits for accumulation of resources by individual actors; (3) its volatility related to decomposition of the "national constellation"; (4) weak overarching identity; and (5) lack of trust and of its institutional substitutes at the global level.