In the late eighteenth and nineteenth century sociological theory was first pioneered, even at the early stages of sociological theory there became a distinct dividing line between theorists. There were one group who believed that society operates because there is a consensus among people that allows them to co-operate with each other and therefore create a society. On the other hand some saw society as being due to conflicting struggles between different groups. Although these two theories conflicted with each other both of them agreed that society is made up of 'social organisations' or 'social structures', unlike others who argued that society is made up of individuals and that it is the actions of individuals which creates society, known as 'action theory'. These concepts are fundamental in sociology and provide the basis for all sociological thinking.
             Since the industrial revolution people have moved from the countryside and are now living in urban towns or cities. This created a modern society as we know it today and has created many structures within this society. Structural theory attempts to discover the influence these social structures have on our behaviour and also the problems they create. Structural theory is thought of as being deterministic as it claims that individuals are not in control of their actions. Action theory however attempts to find out the effect that each individual has on society. This theory takes a free willist view of life as it suggests that individuals are in control of their lives.
             Emile Durkheim is regarded as the founder of consensus or 'functionalist theory', he clamed that social order exists because of institutions such as the political system, the education system, the family, the churches and the economic system. Importantly he claimed that society functioned because everyone adhered to and accepted these systems and that there was a consensus ...