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ACTION THEORY 805
been used to imply different
meanings. In social-science di
noted a theory of sociologica
ideological logic of explanatio
theory of historical idealism,
theory. Neofunctionalists have
mensional reference of the fu
the other traditional implicat
continue to influence the neo
explicitly clear in the neofunct
the individual's internal commitment to the common norms
and values of the society. It can be argued, however, that
neofunctionalism (like functionalism) has not adequately
addressed the question of multidimensionality. Both the reality
of order and the existence of restraining moral commitments
for individuals can be compatible with a materialist theory of
culture which tries to explain the cultural imperatives of the
normative system in terms of the material structures of the
society. The neofunctionalist emphasis on multidimensionality,
therefore, should be extended to the collective and societal
level of theoretical explication. Furthermore, the neofunction-
alist's identification of order with freedom overlooks the
centrality of power relations at the level of cultural discourse.
Finally, neofunctionalist action theory portrays a determin-
istic picture of the form of the individual's relation to the
normative culture. Contrary to the neofunctionalist concept of
rule-following individuals, a conflict-oriented action theory
emphasizes the contingent, ambiguous, and uncertain charac-
ter of cultural rules which are used and exploited as a
significant resource in the ideal and material power struggle
by the individual actors. Tradition, in other words, bot
constrains and opens up new horizons. An autonomy-based
conception of agency and freedom requires a radical reinter-
pretation of the social-contract theory. In this new interpreta-
tion, individuals are bound to their historicity and tradition.
However, this guiding tradition has a metaphorical structure
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