This paper tries to initiate the use of Niklas Luhmann's functional system theory
in social movements research. Current social movement research cannot expand its methodology sufficiently because it has not solved two ignored issues that are described in the following paragraphs.
First, social movement research does not take a skeptical view with regard to its basic action premise, the so-called "historical action theory" named by Alain Touraine. This notion depends on the hypothesis that our will, values, and purposes govern our deeds, and historical action can change conventional norms and values. However, we cannot act in congruence with our will or values all the time. We need to precisely consider this ignored fact. This paper calls this problem the "action theory issue."
Second, attention to our will and values make us insensitive about social contexts. Naturally, social movements are affected by communal contexts. We thus need to create a stance that can connect social movements to societal contexts by employing a different method in conjunction with extant theories. This paper has termed this concern as the "actor issue."
I have endeavored to expand the methodology employed in social movements research by solving the two issues using Luhmann's functional system theory. This model hypothesizes that a particular action is observed when a social system satisfies certain functional requirements that are provided by the system's relationships with entities such as all social systems, other social systems, and itself. In this manner, this theory can solve the two issues outlined above and can update social movement research.
More, introducing Luhmann's theory to social movement research has two advantages : first, this concept can expand the subject of study ; second, the model can effect a re-integration of the domain.
In effecting this attempt, this paper could open up the possibility of expanding the methods utilized in social movement research.
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