Structural Functionlism Theory

In either semi policy- make agreement are structures that pass on different attends to ensure an effective and unflustered hapning of things in that particular authoritiesal strategy. This is why this essay go forth discuss the problems confront by contrary semipolitical parties in Zambia apply the structural functionalist theory. First it entrust explain what structural functionalism is, hence it testament define structures, functions, a political companionship and an emulation fellowship hence before giving the conclusion it will discuss the problems faced by opposition parties in Zambia.Johari (2011) defines structural functionalism as a means of explaining what political structures per work on what basic functions in a political system, it is a pawn of investigation. Macions and Gerber (201014) evokes this approach looks at society through a macro-level orientation, which is a wide focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole and by this s ociety evolves like organisms. According to Johari (201173) functions deal with the consequences involving objectives as well as processes of the patterns of action, Structures refer to those arrangements within the system which perform the functions.For sheath the legal philosophy are a structure within the political system that tolerate a function of maintaining peace and golf club. In the concept of functions, triad basic questions are involved- what basic functions are discharged in any assumption system, by what instruments those functions are performed and under what conditions the performance of these functions are through,(Ibid). Merton (195751) says functions are those observed consequences which make for the adaptation or re-adjustment of a portion outn system and dysfunctions those observed consequences which lessen the adaptation or adjustment of the system.A political society is a body of men united for promoting the content interests on some particular principl es in which they are wholly agreed. It is excessively defined as a group of men professing the like political doctrine. These parties perform a lot of functions. Political parties unite, simplify and energize the political process. They render to widen the interests they represent and harmonise interests with each other. They fork over a link between the government and the people. Easton (1965) adds on political parties seek to educate, instruct and activate the electorate.That is they perform the job of political mobilisation, secularisation and recruitment. normally in a political system the government is under the juvenilerality of a political party. If a political party does non drop control of the government but have seats in the sevens then it is an opposition party which means it opposes the government. An opposition party carriers with it all the functions of a political party. Opposition parties are there to check the fine-tune running of government, in other wo rds they offer checks and balances to the government.In Zambias political system are different structures that perform different functions that affect the opposition parties. Among these is the legislative body that comprises of the president, cabinet ministers and members of parliament also known as the home(a) assembly. Its function is to make righteousnesss that turn a profit the society as a whole. When a bill is read in the field of study assembly it has to be back up by the majority of the house in order for it to become a law. Mainly the opposition reject bills that they find not suitable for the society.But of late in Zambia the president has appointed opposition members of parliament to save as cabinet ministers in government which leads to some of them being expelled from their respective political parties. This affects the opposition because a party is supposed to form a government based on its own ideology, (Ibid), therefore when the opposition members of parliame nt are brought into government they need to adopt and adapt to the legal opinion partys ideology hence disadvantaging the opposition when it comes to decision making in the national assembly.The Media is also another structure involved with the dissemination of data to the society. According to Almond and Powell (1966) a political party needs to legislate with the electorate. Every sentence opposition parties receive coverage in an article, have their face on television or their voice on radio, they simulate that they increase their chances among potential voters. In Zambia however instead of the media being ane of the means of popularity exposure for opposition parties, it tends not to give them enough time because of the media being influenced by government.Zambian Economist (accessed on 17. 12. 13) states if the press was free we would for illustration expect high degree of information compared to a government controlled media. wherefore this becomes a problem for the opp osition. The court has a function of enforcing the law and making sure the rule of law is observed. The Zambia Reports (accessed on 9. 12. 13) states UPND chairperson for Tourism and floriculture Ephraim Belemus said Acting Chief Justice Chibesakunda was compromised and her continued stay at the helm of the Judiciary had proved costly to the arbiter system of the domain.From this quotation we can tell that in Zambia the opposition political parties have been shut from making meaningful contribution to the nation. This absence of effective enfolding in the political process is a very serious bound that Zambian opposition parties face. The executive is in charge of implementing the law and is orchestrateed by the president. When a law is made in parliament it has to be approved by the chief executive officer who happens to be the president.In some cases and in a democratic nation per say the president ratifies laws that are not in favour of the opposition for example in Zambia as the electoral Institution for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (accessed on 10. 12. 13) reports in whitethorn 1996 the Zambian constitution was amended, a presidential candidate needs to be Zambian by birth this disadvantaged the opposition parties present then like UNIP and its president Dr Kenneth Kaunda is not Zambian by birth.Having discussed the problems of these structural functions on the opposition political parties, it is important that we also discuss how these problems can be improved. To start with the legislative assembly, being a law effecting body Sisson and Snowis (1975) states the involvement of the legislature in the making of the law must be considered their central and well-nigh fundamental function. In this case both the opposition and the public opinion parties need to participate effectively because the end results should not only benefit a particular party but the society as a whole.Modern or modernising societies assume that the legislative institutions ought to serve as auxiliaries in the mobilisation of public support for policies, (Ibid), as such members of parliament (MPs) including opposition MPs should be funded to develop their constituencies. The media should be free from any form of corruption or any limitation, government if anything should invest in the media so as to stand it disseminate quality information to the nation at large. Unlike The Zambian situation were the Zambian Economist (accessed on 17. 12. 13) on March 17, 2013 referred to the Zambian media as a corrupt media, the media should bebias free, it should also give the opposition parties just as much attention as it gives the ruling party to allow the opposition share their views about government proceedings and its policies to allow them penetrate to all parts of the nation. The media plays a fine-looking function in the popularisation of the parties that wish to form a government in the future. For example the Post Newspaper is seen to have played a big role in the coming into power of the Ruling Patriotic movement (PF) because it made the party popular to the nation through its publications when the PF was in opposition.The Judiciary is a mechanism for the resolution of disputes and Zambia being a democratic rural area the judiciary should be able to provide the opposition with legal support. infra the separation of powers, the judiciary does not make laws its the work of the legislature neither does it implement the law which is the work of the Executive rather it interprets the law and applies it to the facts of each case. According to Garner (1952) judge means punishment to the harm doer. The major task of the judiciary is to ensure equal justice under the law.Ball (1971) states The judges may be nominated by the head of state, this does not mean the judges work for the head of state or the president they work to ensure that there is fair justice within the society. The decision of the courts contribute the element of leg itimacy to the outputs of the government. Thus it becomes all-important(a) that the behaviour of the courts must not be obstructive or bad so that the smooth running of the organisation becomes a problem, (Ibid). thusly the judiciary needs to be as independent as possible, this would allow free participation of the opposition in the political process.The Executive as its very name indicates, the first and foremost function of the executive is to run the administration of the coarse. In accordance with Johari (2011) the maintenance of internal peace and order should be the principle function for which the government should be established. For this purpose the executive keeps the police force that acts under its command, it should maintain defence forces to serve the country against external aggressions. The executives concern should be to formulate national policies for domestic as well external purposes.All these functions of the Executive should benefit the society as well as op position political parties, for example since the police force is under its command the opposition should be provided with the police divine service when they go to hold their rallies and campaigns. In conclusion, opposition parties in Zambia are faced with many structural functional problems some of which have been named in the parole above, members of the opposition political parties are being lost to the ruling party to benefit their desire of having the overall decision making, and legislative work is rigorously dominated by the ruling party.The media is a very important whoreson of investigation in the political process in that it provides the society of the happenings somewhat if it is restricted to publish certain information by the government, society will have no means of knowing the wrongs of government making it heavy for opposition parties to provide checks and balances. The judiciary is heavily monitored by the ruling party giving no freedom to opposition parties to effectively participate in the political process. The Executive is also biased in the implementation of the law.