Agency and Freedom in Neo-Functionalist Action

ACTION THEORY 799

and properly, human subjects

the subject of their actions. I

subjectivity refers to the

autonomy.54 In agreement w

structuralism, Althusser emp

while determined by social str

are the authors of their action

is precisely this illusion of the

the decentered subjects. As w

very much aware of the fact t

and values of society by i

freedom for those individua

indication of freedom in neo

explicitly the necessary requir

external determination. In oth

and structuralism emphasizes

nation of the internalized nor

for neofunctionalism the ass

rule-believing individual is

freedom, whereas for structur

evidence for rejection of the

of individual actors.

Basing the concept of agency and freedom upon the

principle of autonomy, we can locate the common theoretical

error of structuralist and functionalist action theories. It is the

reificatory and excessively deterministic common premise of

both structuralism and functionalism which should be criti-

cized. Individuals are not passive embodiments of social roles

and the followers of clearly defined and determining rules. On

the contrary, rule-following is accompanied by rule-defining,

rule-redefining, and rule-exploiting practices of individuals in

their concrete conflictual interactions.55 One of the best

54 Louis Althusser, Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays (London: NLB, 1971), pp

121-177.

55 One of the first systematic critiques of role theory can be found in Alain

Touraine, Post-Industrial Society (New York: Random House, 1971).

This content downloaded from 128.97.156.83 on Thu, 29 Dec 2016 18:18:10 UTC

All use subject to