Explanation
System Theory in sociology examines how societies are structured into interdependent, functionally differentiated subsystems (e.g., law, politics, economy, education), each with its own logic and communication code. Unlike actor-centered theories, System Theory focuses on the relationships and communications within and between these subsystems. Niklas Luhmann advanced this approach by describing social systems as operationally closed and autopoietic—they reproduce themselves through communication. Systems interact with their environment via structural coupling, making them both self-referential and adaptable. System Theory offers tools for analyzing complexity, integration, and the challenges of coordination in modern societies.
Theoretical Reference
Niklas Luhmann, Social Systems (1984); Talcott Parsons, The Social System (1951).