The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid

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dc.contributor.authorKefale, Kendeen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-30T13:46:59Z
dc.date.available2014-10-30T13:46:59Z
dc.date.issued2009en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe German sociologist, Niklas Luhmann, proposed a social theory that could describe a society at a far more abstract level than is customary. Based on his study of general systems theory and drawing on the works of biologists and mathematicians, Luhmann formulated his theory of social systems which he hoped would move social theory away from the discourse of oppression. In developing his theory, one of the conclusions he arrived at was that unilateral control (or domination) was impossible as a permanent feature of a system. This paper demonstrates (a) how such unilateral control cannot be a defining structure of a society although it appears temporarily from time to time and (b) how Luhmann's social systems theory provides a theoretical framework to understand the impossibility of unilateral control. By using Luhmann's theory of differentiation, this paper will show how the unique evolution of the Apartheid subsystem led to the temporary success of its efforts at unilateral control. It will also be shown how the same unique differentiation could not allow for this kind of control to persist over time - hence the paradoxes of differentiation. The paper concludes by indicating the dangers of superficial abstractions based on temporary states of a system, and advocates a level of abstraction more concerned with action than experience.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKefale, K. (2009). <i>The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8952en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKefale, Kende. <i>"The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8952en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKefale, K. 2009. The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Kefale, Kende AB - The German sociologist, Niklas Luhmann, proposed a social theory that could describe a society at a far more abstract level than is customary. Based on his study of general systems theory and drawing on the works of biologists and mathematicians, Luhmann formulated his theory of social systems which he hoped would move social theory away from the discourse of oppression. In developing his theory, one of the conclusions he arrived at was that unilateral control (or domination) was impossible as a permanent feature of a system. This paper demonstrates (a) how such unilateral control cannot be a defining structure of a society although it appears temporarily from time to time and (b) how Luhmann's social systems theory provides a theoretical framework to understand the impossibility of unilateral control. By using Luhmann's theory of differentiation, this paper will show how the unique evolution of the Apartheid subsystem led to the temporary success of its efforts at unilateral control. It will also be shown how the same unique differentiation could not allow for this kind of control to persist over time - hence the paradoxes of differentiation. The paper concludes by indicating the dangers of superficial abstractions based on temporary states of a system, and advocates a level of abstraction more concerned with action than experience. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid TI - The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8952 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/8952
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKefale K. The paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheid. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2009 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8952en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Sociologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherSociologyen_ZA
dc.titleThe paradox of differentiation : Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory and the impossibility of unilateral control - the case of apartheiden_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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