Sociological Imagination and Current Affairs - Free Paper Sample

Introduction

Sociologists across the world do have different approaches to societal problems and how people react to them (Griffiths et al., 2015). Also, people will react differently depending on the happenings and their state of mind and the triggers around them (Griffiths et al., 2015). Thus the extent to which a problem will affect society will depend on their society and their well-being (Griffiths et al., 2015). However, sociologists have tried to merge their thinking and agree with the thinking presented by C.W Mills who defines sociological imagination as exercising the awareness and the relationship between personal experience and the society as a whole (Griffiths et al., 2015). The death of George Floyd sparked a protest which did not only remain within the borders but was able to split to other European countries and other subsequent killings across the world. This paper will consider sociological imaginations and the protest across the world because of police brutality.

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Application of Sociological Imagination

Through all these happenings it is correct to allude to the fact that the protests were necessitated by people being aware of their experiences and the general society thus directed their outrage to the respective governments (Griffiths et al., 2015). Additionally, this happened because there were a course and a drive that people are fighting. Furthermore, the reactions were as a result of individuals being aware that they had to push their governments by going to the streets so that their issues could be addressed (Griffiths et al., 2015). Therefore this approach by the great sociologists is equally crucial in analyzing this reaction and explaining the trends and the people involved in the protests (Williamson et al., 2018).

There is a feeling that the police act on the interest of the state and that those who in power should take political responsibility and answer to their grievances (Williamson et al., 2018). Thus different parts of the world are using these approaches to air out their disappointments, and the need to be protected by the same government they feel is behind the brutal killings. Different situations like unemployment, failure in exams and so on may lead someone into some thoughts hence thinking in a particular manner (Griffiths et al., 2015).

Current Affairs of Police Brutality

The police brutality has been an issue in the recent past which has spread to most parts of the world, and in most cases, it ends up in several civilians being killed (Williamson et al., 2018). Additionally, the blame is directed to the respective governments, and people still rely on the same authorities to offer protection (Williamson et al., 2018). Furthermore, people react differently because of their surroundings being aware of how their governments handle such cases. In most cases, civilians have become more aggressive in addressing their issues so that their positions can be heard (Williamson et al., 2018). Thus the issue of police brutality is an issue that requires several laws to protect and limit the extent the law enforcement officers can act while at the same time giving them the powers to protect maintain law and order. Vivid examples include the happenings in the United States, Europe and Africa in the wake of COVID-19 (Williamson et al., 2018).

Theory

Functionalism Theory

The functionalist theory emphasizes that society is like a body that has many organs that need to work together and achieve the intended goals (Griffiths et al., 2015). Furthermore, in alluding to this, the societal organs that are referred to in this theory are for example schools, hospitals, religious set-ups, the family units and so on (Thompson et al., 2016). The society is held together by shared values like language that can form the centre for people to galvanize together and work together (Griffiths et al., 2015). Consequently, if these values are threatened by people perceived to be from outside, society will act in unison to defend their ideals and rights (Thompson et al., 2016). People believe and think that by engaging in protests, they will spur a positive change and hold the society together. At the same time, the perpetrators also feel justified that they are punishing crimes and protect society (Thompson et al., 2016).

Conflict Theory

Conflict theory looks at the society as comprising of different opposing sides which scramble for limited resources (Thompson et al., 2016). One group tends to dominate over another and control the more significant percentage of the available properties (Thompson et al., 2016). Sociologists Ludwig proposes that it is through conflicts and wars that people can expose the happenings in society and spur civilization (Griffiths et al., 2015). In the recent parts, the inequalities emanating from political inequalities, religion profiling and religion persuasions has led to the conflicts across the globe to where people fight for their rights with a hope that they will protect their territory (Thompson et al., 2016). Furthermore, the theory can be applied in the current affairs to establish grounds onto why the protests and the police brutality are happening (Williamson et al., 2018). One a group that always dominate in all the cases and feel more entitled than the others who initiate the unrests to protect their rights (Griffiths et al., 2015).

Symbolic Interaction Theory

Symbolic interaction emphasizes the interaction of individuals in society and how language and symbol are used to express a view (Griffiths et al., 2015). Further, the theory explains the human interaction with the surrounding and the symbols they put to their actions (Griffiths et al., 2015). The protests across the globe and subsequent police brutality are as a result of people feeling that certain people are being profiled extending the outrage (Griffiths et al., 2015).

Triggers

Racial Profiling

Racial profiling is one of the ways through which police can carry out brutality on individual citizens while associating them with some set of crimes (Williamson et al., 2018). The action then further sparks outrage and people feel as if they are endangered, thus reacting to the act (Griffiths et al., 2015). Additionally, the protests can extend for a period unless a consensus is reached. Furthermore, due to racial profiling, people do not trust their governments entirely hence leading to agitation all the time (Williamson et al., 2018). C.W Mills has provided an approach to understanding this action and why people would behave in a particular manner to protect themselves against their surroundings (Griffiths et al., 2015).

Religion

Sociological imagination gives an insight on how people react to police brutality to defend their rights to religion affiliation (Griffiths et al., 2015). Mostly certain religions have been linked to some unwanted undertaking in society (Griffiths et al., 2015). Hence, the police officers would stop at nothing but to follow up on these matters (Williamson et al., 2018). However, the people targeted feel they are unlawfully targeting hence retaliate.

Politics

Politics is another emotive factor in society, and that has sparked a lot of differences across the world (Williamson et al., 2018). The political difference to some extent causes the government or those in power to use police reinforcement in dealing with the dissenting voices. Thus a lot of people have become victims of this act (Griffiths et al., 2015). In the recent past, most countries are experiences political unrest where the locals feel fed up with the way they are being governed hence resulting to protests so that the leadership can bow to pressure and allow for a new team to take over (Williamson et al., 2018). However, in defending their positions, the authorities are engaged in brutal acts through the police, and in the process, the citizens feel the wrath of police brutality (Griffiths et al., 2015). In many instances, the preys are very peaceful people, but the police act indiscriminately (Griffiths et al., 2015).

Conclusion

Societal injustices like the police brutality are an issue that spurs people it action since so many individuals are not very comfortable with them. The actions do not just happen, but a trigger and a need automatically force people into action. These problems cannot be resolved if there is no change intact, and this develops when there is a change in thinking. People realize that they must take initiatives and hard resolutions to change their situation. Sometimes the police brutality can seem inconsequential, but as it gets its roots in the society, people feel the need to gang up and work together to defeat such vices in the societal. Thus the actions and the protests across the world, which generally start just in a small section then gain traction. Consequently, the incorporation of social media has enhanced these protests since people from different regions can share the happenings and lead the masses into action. Thus sociology is very helpful in explaining the events across the world. Furthermore, it can explain how people think and react to different situations.

References

Griffiths, H., Keims, N., Strayer, E., Sadler, T., Cody-Rydzewski, S., Scaramuzzo, G., Vyain, S.,& Bry, J.(2015). Introduction to Sociology. OpenStax 2e
https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-2e

Thompson, W. E., Hickey, J. V., & Thompson, M. L. (2016). Society in focus: An introduction to sociology. Rowman & Littlefield.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=823TCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR4&dq=sociology+and+society&ots=5mKPjCxCdD&sig=mLxHaT3JDYHY8-1qyj

GqyeZ-Williamson, V., Trump, K. S., & Einstein, K. L. (2018). Black lives matter: evidence that police-caused deaths predict protest activity. Perspectives on Politics, 16(2), 400-415.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/black-lives-matter-evidence-that-policecaused-deaths-predict.