Explanation
In sociology, differentiation describes how modern societies evolve from undifferentiated or segmentary structures (e.g., kinship groups) into complex systems with distinct functions. Functional differentiation means that subsystems (law, politics, economy, science) develop their own specialized roles, norms, and codes, enabling societies to manage greater complexity. Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory emphasizes that these subsystems are operationally closed yet structurally coupled, communicating through their own codes (e.g., legal/illegal, true/false, power/no power). Differentiation allows efficiency and specialization but also creates coordination challenges and potential conflicts among subsystems.
Theoretical Reference
Émile Durkheim, The Division of Labour in Society (1893); Niklas Luhmann, Social Systems (1984).