Sociologists use three main theoretical perspectives when analyzing the social world, including events both historical and current. Log onto Yahoo! and choose one of the breaking stories from the "In the News" section. Follow the links given, reading articles and viewing pictures from online newspapers and networks on your chosen story. Next, apply functionalist or conflict perspectives to the story.
a. How would Karl Marx and conflict thinkers view such an event? Is there tension and struggle between groups? Which groups?
b. How would Émile Durkheim and functionalist thinkers examine the story? Can you apply concepts such as manifest functions, latent functions, and dysfunctions?
c. Which perspective did you find to be the most interesting? Is one perspective better suited than the others to analyze the story? Why or why not?