SOCIAL BALANCE: CONCEPT, MECHANISMS AND EXAMPLE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The e social rotational forces is a concept born in economics and sociology. In general terms, it is a system in which the components maintain a balanced position, without major inequalities that could be a source of conflict.

In the social aspect, this translates into two different elements. The first, internal balance, which occurs within a group. The second type is external equilibrium, which is the one that occurs between different groups. If society achieves both goals, coexistence becomes easier.

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There are various mechanisms to achieve social balance. They are normally promoted by the administrations, although civil society also actively participates in seeking solutions to imbalances. Giving the possibility of social improvement thanks to education is one of the classic examples of these mechanisms.

In recent years, with technological changes and the consequences of the economic crisis, new mechanisms have been proposed to achieve balance. The best known and which have been tested in some countries is the so-called Universal Basic Income.

Concept

Social equilibrium was defined by the American sociologist Talcott Parsons as a system in which the various groups that are part of society maintain a balance of earnings and contributions.

For many scholars, this balance is an ideal state, although it is difficult to achieve in reality; in any case, one must tend to achieve it. Otherwise, a large imbalance can cause tensions, revolutions or wars.

Internal and external balance

The balance to which the term refers occurs in two different realms. Thus, sociologists speak of an inner balance, which occurs between the members of a specific group; and an external one, which occurs between the various social groups.

Within each group, a balance is formed between two trends: the contributions of each member and the benefits that each receives. If the balance of both aspects is correct, the group will work without problem. Instead, if someone contributes much more than they receive, tensions will inevitably flourish.

Part of the problems appears when an individual - or a group if we speak of external balance - wants to obtain much more than what would correspond to them for their contributions. In this way, in the end different classes are created, based on what each one extracts from the group.

Unfair situation

Groups or individuals that seize more than their fair share end up provoking an unfair reaction. Only the action of higher authorities, either the company or the State, can correct the situation created.

It must be borne in mind that the tensions on the part of the less favored members, although all act respecting the rules, are going to be common. If these reactions are very intense, they can end up causing revolutions or violent changes in the social paradigm.

In this way, the only way that social peace can be maintained is that each individual or group can receive enough to make their life worthy.

Distortions

In the end, sociologists point out that social groups (or classes) have a behavior similar to that of individuals. There are some with selfish behavior who do not mind breaking the social balance if they can obtain their own benefits.

An aspect that distorts the balance even more is when an individual or group appears that has obtained its benefits, advantages or prestige in a way that the rest of society considers unfair. Being considered a great imbalance, the general reaction will be very negative.

Mechanisms of social balance

Limits to the market

Although the classical theory of economic liberalism affirms that the market is capable of regulating itself and, thus, benefiting society, the truth is that in reality it does not work that way. Without regulation, the free market ends up generating inequalities that generate large pockets of poverty.

The correct regulation of economic activity can correct this problem. Equal opportunities, the enactment of labor rights, and even price controls for basic goods, have been mechanisms commonly used to seek balance.

Education and social elevator

In a society with diverse economic classes, the existence of the so-called social elevator exerts great benefits in favor of maintaining balance.

The concept refers to the change -for the better- of socioeconomic conditions; for example, someone from the lower class may have the option of becoming a lawyer or a doctor.

The traditional mechanism that has ensured this has been education. For this, the State had to take charge of the education system and ensure that all children, not just those from favored families, had access to it.

To complete the system, scholarship programs have been established so that anyone who meets the requirements has the option of going to university.

Unemployment benefits

Salary disparity can lead to a huge imbalance in society. The most serious situation is when someone loses their job; the risk of falling into poverty would be almost certain in the absence of paid subsidies for a certain time.

Legislation against discrimination

Discrimination for any cause also leads to general imbalance in society. Whether on the grounds of sex, race or sexual orientation, many individuals run the risk of being marginalized, both in the search for a job and in aspects such as access to housing.

Governments have created legal mechanisms to avoid the effects of such discrimination. They have done so by creating laws that punish any such attitude, in addition to developing educational programs to change the mentalities that cause it.

Redistribution of wealth

This is not a literal redistribution of wealth. The way to do this is through a tax system whose amount is tied to income. The proceeds are used to finance public health, education and other social programs.

In this way, the least favored can access essential services to maintain a certain quality of life.

Example

A historical example of a mechanism to restore social balance was the New Deal advocated by the US government after the Great Depression of 1929.

The country's society collapsed in a very few months. The ruin reached broad sections of the population, but the less-skilled workers were most severely affected. Suddenly, they found themselves out of work, without any help and wandering from one state to another in search of any kind of employment.

The mechanism that President Roosevelt approved, and that was designed by the economist Keynes, broke with the liberal economic orthodoxy of the time to try to solve the great problem. In this way, it began to invest public money in various sectors of the economy.

As a sample, the enormous number of public works that began to be developed can be named. It was a way of increasing employment, even if it was paid for by the state itself. The intention was to increase consumption, which would boost the service and housing sectors, among others.

Although it took a few years, the recovery of the United States occurred. The mechanisms created by the government worked and the social balance almost returned to previous levels.

References

1. Concept and Definition. Definition of Social Balance. Obtained from conceptydefinition.com
2. Silverio Álvarez, Pedro. The difficult social balance. Obtained from diariolibre.com
3. Moanack, Gloria. Towards a new social balance. Obtained from eltiempo.com
4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Social equilibrium. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. Antonio, Margaret. Maintaining Social Equilibrium: The Rationale Behind Holding Doors Open. Retrieved from bcfreshink.com
6. Culture and Religion. Social Equilibrium. Retrieved from cultureandreligion.com
7. Collins Dictionary of Sociology. Social equilibrium. Retrieved from encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com