FUNCTIONAL-DIFFERENTIATION - WHATS THE PO INT - AN UPDATED INVENTORY

Since the end of the seventies functional differentiation experiences a comeback in sociology. The article starts with different theories of differentiation: the systemtheoretical versions in the succession of Talcott Parsons: Niklas Luhmann, Richard Munch and the so-called neofu nctionalists; interpretations of Max Weber in the Light of differentia tion by Wolfgang Schluchter and Jurgen Habermas and finally radical vo luntaristic conceptions, which call in question the process of differe ntiation. Further on studies will be presented, which uses this concep t more in an empirical sense as an instrument for the diagnosis of pro blems of modern societies and for the explanation of the break-down of the socialist societies. From both working contexts the open question s will be extracted, which a future differentiation theory has to face . A significant trend to reconstruct the differentiation concept with action theory is recognizable. Finally an outline of an action-based d ifferentiation theory is made. Which systemtheoretical presuppositions have to be dropped and how changes the view on this traditional syste mtheoretical coined theme of sociology with action theory?