Inclusion and social inequality

How can we link the two most important concepts for an analysis of modern s ocieties, functional differentiation and social inequality? Systems theory claims a primacy of functional differentiation in modern societies and reje cts the assumption of a general structure of inequality. It claims, that ea ch functional subsystem produces its own kind of inequality. Empirically ho wever, there are links between different forms of inclusion into these subs ystems, which lead to a general form of inequality. It stems from three pow er resources: symbolic power (education), political power, and economic opp ortunities, which are convertible, thereby generating a general structure o f inequality. Given that these resources intersect in individuals' occupati onal positions, I argue that 'occupation' turns out to be the crucial varia ble to understand the relation between functional differentiation and socia l inequality. Strategies of social closure and the monopolization of resour ces constitute a principle of social structuration, which cannot be derived from the concept of functional differentiation.