Structure versus Agency - Essay Example

Sociologists have been addressing the debate on structure versus agency for a long time. Agency advocates for free will whereby an individual can make his or her own choices without external influence. The structure on the other hand describes the prevailing structured plans that are aimed at driving individuals to have limited choices and scarce opportunities. Structure sells the idea of socialism while agency calls for autonomy. The question on which is better has brought heated debates among the renowned sociologists.

Various sociologists have taken part in the debate on the primacy of either structure or agency. Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim are among the many sociologists who have made contributions to the debate. Marx advocates for the agency. The theorists believe that individuality in decision making translates to inevitable modification in the societal structure. Marx believes in starting change from the individual level. Marx acknowledges that both structure and agency bring change to society but has gone ahead to argue that structure forces people to change even when they do not require the change.

Agency brings change that is of everybody’s best interest (Marx & Friedrich 473-483). Emile Durkheim is another sociologist whose opinion on the debate holds water. Unlike Karl Marx, Durkheim advocates for the uses of structure to instill change in society. He argues that individuals do not bring change that can influence the entire society. They just bring change based on personal needs. The structure on the other hand brings uniform change to the entire society with reference to the underlying societal needs pinpointed by the authority.

He further argues that individuals should not be allowed to formulate their own thoughts. He strongly believes that for the best of society, the structure is important (Durkheim 50-59). In the debate on who is to blame for the current economic crisis, one can directly apply Marx and Durkheim’s theories on structure versus agency. It is vividly clear that Marx would blame the financial institutions that have designed to vend unbearable mortgages to the people (Powell Para 8). He would argue that the financial organizations are upholding the structural culture whereby individual needs and abilities are not considered.

The culture ignores individuals and deals with the entire society as equals. Not everyone can afford expensive mortgages. The individuals are oppressed using the expensive rates on mortgages because they do not have a choice. Karl Marx would mobilize people to go against the current economic crisis on an individual level by making decisions not to take part in what they cannot afford. Emile Durkheim would put the blame on the individuals who choose to take up the mortgages knowing that they are taking a great risk with their financial ability.

He believes in structured culture and would, therefore, be on the financial organization’s side arguing that the drafted mortgage rates are to the best of everyone’s interest. Durkheim believes that individuals would slow down the societal change and therefore there is a need to manipulate change on a higher and more effective level. Durkheim would not think twice about congratulating the institutions that have been piloting the economy (Jary & Julia 774).