SOCW 5306 Generalist Macro Practice Test

Durkheim’s ideas about how society stays together and how institutions regulate behavior provide a clear lens for understanding both social movements and organizational change. He describes solidarity in two forms: mechanical solidarity in traditional, simple societies where shared norms bind people, and organic solidarity in modern, complex societies where interdependence through the division of labor binds people. When rapid change disrupts shared norms and the regulatory functions of institutions, a state of anomie can occur, creating strain that can spark collective action and movements aimed at restoring or reconstructing social order. At the same time, Durkheim emphasizes that institutions and rituals help maintain stability; shifts in organizational structure or the way tasks are organized can alter interdependencies and trigger reforms to preserve cohesion. This macro-level focus on how norms, institutions, and collective expectations frame both movement emergence and organizational adaptation is what makes Durkheim the influential source for theories about social movements and organizational change.