Economic Institution

Economy as an Institution:

Economic Institution in sociology and anthropology refers to the way of performing, economics activities. Through these institutions, economic necessities of a community are fulfilled. Not only economic institutions are limited in fulfilling of economic necessities but also they affect the whole society and culture. Hence economic institutions are the focal point of study. Economic institutions are more concerned with the production of goods and services, consumption and distribution.

               Economic Institution is a way of working system. Organizational structure, and its legal activities, what we call in general cannot be called an economic institution. In sociology and anthropology economic institution means those organization that are developed from ancient times and the form of economic activities and relationship that are prevalent even today.

              

Economic Institution in sociology and anthropology means the way of conducting economic activities in society. The system of production, consumption and distribution of goods and services as per the custom and the requirement of society in each society, be it the traditional or rural or modern or urban, we call it economic institution. These economic institutions mainly focus on three aspects. Firstly, the type and quantity of goods and services to be produced, secondly, how to exploit the existing natural resources like land, mines, forest, water resources and human resources for production of goods and services and the availability of such resources and thirdly, to whom goods and services need to produce etc. Each economic institutions work actively in each historical period considering these three aspects.

Economy as an adoptive institution of society:

There happens to be a intimate relationship between economy and social institution. There is one possibility of change in the form of economy due to the form of society, its situations, demands and desires, nature of consumption, culture, religion, values and beliefs. It means that the socio-cultural state and nature determines the state and nature of economy. On the flipside economy also determines the nature and forms of socio-cultural system. Relaying on these two analyses, we can claim that economy is an adoptive institution of society. 

Economy is the process of operation of social system, which continuously affects the society. Economy means the integrated system of consumption, production, distribution and exchange. The process of consumption, production, distribution and exchange depends upon human desires, which is also affected by cultural and geo-physical aspect. To ease their livelihood pattern human selects certain economic system, relationship and behaviors. Economic system is selected on the basis of types of production and their benefits to the society.

Economy cannot be understood excluding it from society and culture. As per social desires, if production processes are forwarded, change also occurs in total production system. Economy, indeed, is an adaptive institution in society. Hence, various economics are developed in a social system. 

Economic institution and socio cultural life:

Economic Institution has a direct relationship with social life. The following points will clarify this argument.

1. Economic system and division of labor
2. Economic system and social structure
3. Economic System and occupation
4. Economic system and production, consumption and exchange system
5. Economic system and stratification and social relationship

Task of Economic Institution:

Economy is the unified form of production system, distribution, exchange and consumption. We generally understand the technique of production, relationship among the production units, impart of technology, produced goods, while speaking about economy. We can describe the task of economy as follows:

1.Production:

Production is the main task of economy. Production means the construction, development and growth of goods and services. Production of such goods and services is made for the household level to community level and national level. Household level production is mainly of primary nature, where family is only focused while producing. For example subsistence based cultivation, animal husbandry, small scale cloth and wares, and tools are produced for the consumption by certain communities only and not for selling.

In industrial society production is made in large scale using the mass equipments, machines, technology and resources. Large scale produced goods and services are delivered into external market. Production mechanisms are prepared as per the demand of the market and more and more profit is expected from production. This kind of production is made in industrial capitalist societies. Modern capitalist economy has begun displacing traditional knowledge, skills, ways, methods, capacities etc, which ultimately promote industrial dependency and extinction of community based production and skills.

2.Distribution:

Distribution means the process through which goods and services are delivered to targeted groups. Through distribution process goods and services are extended to communities. While distributing, if the nature of production is primary, or if the production quantities are limited and if the production is subsistence based, such goods are distributed to specific and communities only. After industrialization, when goods are produces in extensive way, the importance of distribution is highlighted. The distribution process of global marked-based goods and services of industrial states is broadened.

            In the present world, transportation and other infrastructure are developed to ease the distribution process of goods, produced by multinational companies, in concerned countries. Political and economic treaties are made between the concerned countries to make easier the distribution globally. But the unequal distribution of income has promoted the imbalances in the economy in the present world. The gap between rich and poor is increased globally. The main factor behind this is the inability of the state mechanism to deliver development process equally to each class and strata of people living in the country.

3.Exchange:

Exchange is the process of buying and selling of goods and services in the market on monetary basis and where goods are sold in cash. Business transaction and exchange are adopted. Today’s modern monetary production system or economy depends upon this process. Each kind of exchange activities are made possible as money is comfortable and acceptable for all. But money cannot be reliable mean in each society. In such situation people get goods through exchange. In some societies, labor has been  major base or tool of exchange.

4.Consumption:

In economy, the propose of production of each goods and services is for consumption. Consumption means the use of goods or services as per human needs and satisfactions. The use of goods and services itself is consumption. The level of consumption is increased if goods and services are produced considering, the demand, desires and necessities of the concerned communities. The role of individual, society and state is important in easing the livelihood system of people raising the socio-economic status of people through the consumption of available resources and means at the community.

Economic Role and Social Significance of Household Level Institution:

The basic unit of each production process is family. Family and household based division of labor, condition of employment, decision process, income or earning, entrepreneurship and consumption directly affect the economy. Household level economic activities and the relationship within it affect positively to the economy. If there is no discrimination in division of labor within home, if there is equal possibility of each member participating within or outside the household activities, such a state contributes positively to the economy. But gender discrimination, age discriminations, unnecessary expenditures, religious prohibitions, conservative customs contributes negatively in the entire economy. However such tendencies are even frequent at the present in our societies.

Economic activities which are performed through family level have economic and social significance as well. Household level economic activities are mainly oriented towards social development, process, unity and advancement. Household economic activities are limited to house and communities. They do have significant impacts on the entire society. Family based production system or income or employment promote self confidence in society. Progress in the family helps community to be civilized, educated and alert. Household level agriculture, tailoring, saving, investment, animal husbandry, division of labor etc, strengthens the entire social welfare.

Economic role and Social Significance of Community level Institution:

Various communities in societies have various types of production techniques. They also have their own ways of subsistence patterns. They have own technique of mobilizing resources and production means, and own practices. All have an impact in the economy.

Economic activities in a gurung community are preformed through the rodhi or nogar an indigenous social and economic institution. In this institution the resources mobilization and community participation are highly expected. Likewise, labor is consolidated and mobilized as per the requirement, through which economic, social and political are fulfilled in a socirty. Bheja in Magar communities, Dhikuri in Tahkali communities, labor exchange (parma) in Bramin and Chetry communities, Ghuti in Newar communities of Nepal and through other various institution substance activities have been conducted, which has also contributed positively in the economy.

Whatever the economy activities held in communities, they all have social and cultural importance. Such economic activities unite various families, caste, language, cultures, etc and strength social unity. Cultures, beliefs, values, religion and customs are applied in economic activities like Parma, Dhikur, Nogar, Rodhi, Bheja etc. in society. Socio cultural necessities are fulfilled through such these activities. For example, inn rural areas ‘mother’s groups’ and similar  other institutions have affected positively to the upliftment of education sector, infrastructure, forest , and irrigation related activities etc. these activities are performed on participation, which also focus on lessening of gender decimation, caste decimation, raising the backward groups, castes, and religions, promoting of mutual corporation and working together. These are what we call the social significance of community level economics activities. In rural areas, the participation of lower caste people has also increased in daily related activities, which has also helped in decreasing the traditional inequalities. This is also an example of social development. Likewise, there do not occur sex and age related decimation in Rodhi and in Bheja resources of a community are mobilized under the guidance of given community. Any society if considers itself secures, it obviously promotes social unity and brotherhood, which ultimately leads to the economic prosperity of that society due to the remarkable participation of its members. 

Economic Role and Social significance of State level institution:

State level financial institutions, which collect and mobilize capital, create national capital and an investment friendly environment. Economic and social development related activities are forwarded through central and local level state institutions. The availability of acts, rules, laws, related to economic development, peace and security and investments obviously contributes to the nation in its way to economic development. In the countries like ours, the role of state in economic development, stability, good governance and progress is must. State can never escape from the economic development related activities. It has the first and the foremost responsibility in eliminating poverty, inequality and backwardness.

State-led economic activities are the only means of entire social development and transformation. When a country involves in an economic revolution, means and resources are widely mobilized and the rate of capital mobilization and construction also extended. Human are more likely to be employed, through which their level of education, health, occupation, freedom, human rights, selection, empowerment, also raised or promoted. The country through this process moves towards social transformation, social and economic disparities can be eradicated. Since economic policies affect entire societies, those policies and programs need to be oriented towards achieving the objective of social development together with economic development. Economic policies obviously can be the fundamental bases of social development.

Political institution

Political institution

Polity as an Institution:

For fulfilling political requirements of communities, political institutions have been developed. We call political system a procedure of political activities, rules, assumptions, costumes and behaviors and working system. It is an institution with the working procedure, allocation of power and asserting leadership rights. Leadership is selected by political system and that leadership makes policies for conducting economic, social, political activities and implements these policies. Formation of a constitution, its implementation, and foreign affairs are also broadened through political institution. As these institution have a significant role in ruling system of the country, it has a significant impact on the socio cultural life as well.

By political institution, in sociology and anthropology, do not only mean the state, government or political parties but also the behavior, order, ideas, working system and methods within the family or a community and for them. About the political institution, James W. Vander Zanden says, “The political institution is the social structure concerned with the use and distribution of power within the society.”

Polity a decision making component of society:

Politics guide the entire society. Politics remain at the heart of entire social and economic system. Which classes of people or communities have access to the process of state mechanism also affect socio economic development of society. What kind of economic development is to be conducted, what kind of religious policies are to be adopted, how to impart people of various classes and layers in the process of development, are significantly affected by political system. The role of politics in decision making process is as follows.

 ◦ Politics is the major base of operation of state system.

 ◦ Economic, social, academic, cultural, religious rules and regulations and laws that are made by the state, instruct the society.

◦ Participatory, democratic and pro-people ruling system can change entirely the society.

◦ If democratic system is adopted in political system; pro-people ruling can be established through political parties as common people convey their interest to their leaders.

◦ If politics is regulated as per the peoples mandate, independent and participatory society can institutionally be developed.

◦ Through the activities of political parties like awareness programs, political training, people’s mobilization, people’s mandates are materialized in the decision making process of a society.

One of the important factors of societies remaining unchanged is the negative impact of politics. Countries in the world are suffered from dictatorial rule, caste system, transgression, and backward movement due to the politics without the long term vision, political lingering and intervention by foreign countries. Thus, decision making process of such countries need to be participatory. Proper participation can only transform society as per people’s will.

In traditional societies, people of certain class, caste, religion, culture had determining role in decision making process but in modern democratic societies; decision are made by the people elected democratically by the people. But, in each sectors politics plays a decisive role in decision making process. Thus, politics is such a social institution, which determines to operate social issues like cases, problems, requirements with essential strategies for the social sake. Politics does not have legal authority. The roles of the political parties in these issues are much important. Hence, politics is such a social institution which organizes and institutionalizes the devolution of power and decision making process.

Political role of Household level institution:

Household level activities like human behavior, relationships, and activities, division of labor and availability of rights affects politics. Politics is not only an institution formed to operate the state but also a way, belief and behavior of dealing in household, determination of role and participation of an individual, and the way of mobilizing the available means and resources. Even the household level gender inequality affects the entire political system. Likewise, decision making culture of senior member in a household may sometimes hinder the leadership capability of remaining members. Better political culture can only be expected if a family adopt political rules, nature and behavior from its very foundation.

Political role of Community level Institution:

Community based political institutions can play an important role in mobilization of community level means and resources. Not only this, wrath, anger, quarrel, conforming of border issue etc are also solved by this institution. Domination of specific caste-based people and less concern of some people in politics create imbalances in national level politics. The base of national politics no doubt, is the community level political system, behavior, relationships and activities.

Political role of State Level Institution:

Introduction:

A state is an organized political community living under a government. States may be sovereign. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union. ome states are subject to external sovereignty or hegemony where ultimate sovereignty lies in another state. The state can also be used to refer to the secular branches of government within a state, often as a manner of contrasting them with churches and civilian institutions (civil society).

There is no academic consensus on the most appropriate definition of the state. The term "state" refers to a set of different, but interrelated and often overlapping, theories about a certain range of political phenomena. The act of defining the term can be seen as part of an ideological conflict, because different definitions lead to different theories of state function, and as a result validate different political strategies. The most commonly used definition is Max Weber's, which describes the state as a compulsory political organization with a centralized government that maintains a monopoly of the legitimate use of force within a certain territory. General categories of state institutions include administrative bureaucracies, legal systems, and military or religious organizations.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a state is "a an organized political community under one government; a commonwealth; a nation. b such a community forming part of a federal republic, esp. the United States of America".

Essential Elements of a state:

Legitimacy:

Legal bases are needed to be a state. Legally established political organs can only be a state. State is an authorized legal institution to create and practice law.

Population:

The significance of a state relies upon the population. Thus, population is an essential requirement for a state. State without people cannot be expected.

Territory:

A certain geographical territory is needed to be a state. Certain frontier territory is only authorized by a state.

Sovereignty:

Sovereignty is the most important feature of the state. Sovereign state can only gains the authority, makes various decisions, people gets the entire political rights.

Government:

State erects government and mechanism to conduct its entire activities. Government has an important role in rendering life to a society.

Functions of the state:

The functions of the state are as follows:

1. Preserve national integrity.
2. To guarantee social justice, peace, security and people’s rights.
3. To construct agriculture, health, industry, education related infrastructures.
4. To protect natural resources, heritages, religion, forests and animals.
5. Develop international relations.

Social significance of political role performed by state:

State is the supreme legal institution of a nation. It conducts mass welfare activities for its people. It can make plans for progress, sovereignty and development. The functions of the state given below have the social significance.

1. Establishment of mass welfare state
2. All types of discrimination based on caste, linguistic, regional, gender etc are receded.
3. People of each and every class and level are more likely to participate in the nation building process.
4. Ailments, hunger, poverty, backwardness can be eradicates.

The nature of state, if made people friendly, society of a complete justice can be created.

Social significance of political role performed by Community:

Whatever the political activities are conducted in the community level, the main objective is to enhance social development and to solve problems of that community. In some communities, the access and involvement of women, lower caste, in politics are denied. Political activities in community level attempt to solve local level disputes on the basis of community participation. Other important factor of community level political activities is leadership. Equal participation of people of various strata in policy making activities are more unlikely to appear. As a result, we can see under representation of various marginalized communities in national level political leadership.

Social significance of political role performed by household:

Decision making process in household levels also affects the social development process. If each member of a family irrespective of their sex, age, relationship, has equal access to the decision making process, it contributes positively in the progress in a family and in community. This process can also enhance the level of education, employment, division of labor, production and participation. Family itself is the basic unit of political system. Equality and justice based household and community activities can only render prosperity in a society. Thus, family needs to adapt even with the sudden changes in a society.

Educational Institution

Educational Institution

Education as an Institution:

Education is the means of operating educational activities, where academic phenomena happen. Various educational activities are launched as per the demand of the society. As people of diverse strata involve in the process considering the given rules, processes, objectives, assumptions, expectations, this can be regarded as a social institution. John J Macionis has defined education as an institution in this way: Education is the social institution guiding a society’s transformation of knowledge including basic facts, job skill and cultural norms and values to its members.

Education was informal in pre-industrial societies. Education was provided through churches, temples, musjids, gumbas, etc. And that education was more associated  with religion. But, together with modernization, changes have been occurred in the exchange , objectivities,  and nature of participation  in education. There fore scientific and practical educatiob has ben developed.

Education is the major tool of socialization process. Knowledge, culture, values, beliefs, langagues, arts, literature, technologies, that are developed in one society is transferred to other societies through education. These entities are transferred from one individual to other and one generation to other generation. This process is gradual and universal. Thus, education can be taken as an important social institution. Likewise, education is also means od social awareness, consciousness, and unity. However, the prevailing lack of equal access  to education, impractical education is the burning challenge at the present age.

Education as process of Transformation:

Education is the main base of change, transformation and development of human society. It is through education, biological human transforms into a cultural human. Education makes human culture, civilized and progressive. Thus, education is taken as a vechile of change. The highly develop societies at the present became developed, advanced, autonomous, etc, due to the education. Hence education can be taken without dout a means of development in society.

Education makes individuals aware of own country, society, language culture. New knowledge is gained as it transfers from one generation to other generation through education. Thus, education is taken as a process of social transformation, which can be justified with the help of evidence bellow:

1. Education is the major base of gaining knowledge. Transformation of society is possible through the transfer of knowledge.
2. Education can be taken as a major unit or agent of transfer of culture, a continuous process in society.
3. Education eases socialization process and helps to transfer science, knowledge, and art, literature, from a person to other and one generation to other generation.
4. Education plays the major role in rectifying the misconceptions of society like, superstitions, misdeeds, and misunderstanding.
5. Education develops human values, constructs consciousness and seeks autonomy through which transformation of society is possible.
6. Education is the means of empowerment, through which change in society is possible. 

Social signification of education:

Education has a paramount significance in society. The development programs, autonomy, independency of each society can be expected or possible only through education. Relying on these arguments social significance of education can be mentioned bellow as follows:

1. Education plays an important role in systematizing, operating and controlling the social system if needed.
2. Through education a person learns about social values, beliefs, assumptions, cultures, responsibilities, rights, etc, by which the society becomes civilized.
3. Caste-based, religion, linguistic, gender disparities can be understood through education. Factors of disparities can be sought, which above all, helps in the systematizing the society.
4. Education provides knowledge to people about their rights and responsibilities.
5. Education is the base of social unity.
6. Social evils like superstitions, decimation oppressions, can be eradicated rom society with the help of education.
7. New invention and discoveries are possible through education. Technology, art, literature, philosophy, can be enhanced through education.
8. Education can play a positive role in economic, political, culture movements for a social change.
9. Education is the primary means of socialization.
10. Education brings freedom of man, democratization, inclusion and self-respect.

Until and unless education cannot be made accessible to all, social disparities discriminations prevail widely in all societies
. 

Socialization
Introduction:
Socialization is a term used by sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists and educationalists to refer to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society. Socialization is thus ‘the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained’. The process of developing and the patterns of behavior and characteristics of a culture that a child goes through while being raised in that culture, including acquiring shared values and learning how to interact with others without breaking the culture's taboos is called socialization.
Socialization describes a process which may lead to desirable, or 'moral', outcomes. Individual views on certain issues, such as race or economics, may be socialized (and to that extent normalized) within a society. Many socio-political theories postulate that socialization provides only a partial explanation for human beliefs and behaviors, maintaining that agents are not 'blank slates' predetermined by their environment. Scientific research provides some evidence that people might be shaped by both social influences and genes. Genetic studies have shown that a person's environment interacts with his or her genotype to influence behavioral outcomes.

Definitions of Socialization

Socialization has been defined by various socialists as under;
Macionis said, “The life long process by which as individual becomes the proper member of society and develops human characteristics.”
According to Horton and Hunt "Socialization is a learning process in which groups interact and learn social norms also develop his/her self.”
According to Ogburn: "Socialization is the process of learning the norms of the group and society”

Socialization is a continuous and life long process till to the end of life. An individual learns language, culture, values, norms, attitudes and behaviors which molds his/her personality and becomes a social being. This is the only process of socialization due to which a person develops his/her personality and self when an individual interacts with other members of his/her family and community or groups. He/she learns more about culture and they transmit these norms to the next generation.

Education for creation, maintenance and transformation of culture and knowledge in society:

Education is the main base of gaining knowledge. New knowledge in society and culture can be achieved through education. Newer discoveries and researches enhance new experiences, practices, methods, traditions and cultures about the society and culture. Thus, education is regarded in a major base for creation of knowledge and culture. Education has contributed significantly in transferring the hunting-gathering, animal husbandry, peasant and industrial society into a modern society. New theories, methods, are developed in the present world. Creation of all these subjects is education.

Education not only creates knowledge and culture but also emphasized on its easy and effective management. Education can be both means and ends in identifying the relevancy of various experiences. If the academic and cultural aspects those created through education can be materialized, the relevancy of education can be enjoyed. The effectiveness of knowledge and culture increases. Thus, education is regarded as the base of management of knowledge and culture.

Role of family for providing education on socialization people in society:

At first, in our society, an individual gets education from its family. Thus, we frequently say that family is the first school of our life. Family provides knowledge informally to its members about language, culture, customs, ideas etc. Education, for socializing a human, is gained from its family.

Family is the first and the most important unit of socialization. Human informally learns about the various values, beliefs, morals, norms, rules, customs, from its birth to death in the family. Love, affection, sympathy, resistance all are learnt from family. Humans also learn about festivals, the role and responsibilities from family. Thus, family is the first, primary and important unit of learning.

Role of community for providing people education in society:   

Each community has its own socio-cultural traditions, beliefs, norms, behaviors and activities. People acquire knowledge through community based socio-cultural practices. Each community has its own way, tradition and assumption of educating its people. Community level education means the informal education which is gained through the religious teachers and through community managed institution. Community level activities were performed through community education.

Role of state for providing education to the people in society:

Providing education to its people is the responsibility of the state. State has its education policy and program, where administrative mechanisms are also built to implements those programs and policies. State has an important role in the development of education. As education is the most important factor for transforming a whole society, each people must have access to it. Thus, the state needs to focus on the accessibility of education for all while drafting the education related policies and implementing these policies.

NGOs and Private sectors in Education:

Role of private sector in present context cannot be denied. Increasing role of private sectors in education is due to the limited budget of government, increasing scope of education day by day, specialization in education, etc. Scientific, practical, and quality education have become the need at present. The role of private sectors, hence, cannot be denied. Various non-governmental organizations and INGOs have been imparting women literacy, women education campaigns, adult education campaigns to educate people. They have also imparted lower caste people in education programs.

      

      

Religious Institution:

Religious Institution:

Religion as an Institution:

Religious institution means the way of working system prevalent in our society from ancient age to till, that conducts religious activities, behaviors, relationships and faith, their adoption and exchanges. It is ancient as well as universal. Currently developed moralities, laws, social perspectives, political developments, economic development etc are significantly affected by religion. Various religions have existed in the world and these religions have guided, controlled human activities in societies. Religion has also become the reliable means of social organization. However, according to Marxist perspective, religion is the institution developed by certain classes for exploiting the remaining people in each society. Nevertheless, not all the social thinkers, analyst, philosophers are ready to agree with this analysis. Sociologist like Emile Durkheim has regarded religion as an integrative power in human society.

Definition of religion:

Religious teachers, social analyst and philosophers have defined religion in their own way. However, the conclusion of all religion is same: faith on supernatural power, social unity and control, faith on nature, worshipping, praying, devotion etc.

“Religion is the belief in spiritual beings” – Taylor.

According to Durkheim,”Religion is the unified system of belief and practice relative to sacred things”. Likewise, Malinowski says,” Religion is the mode of action as well as system of belief, and a sociological phenomena as well as a personal experience”. For J M Yinger, “Religion then, can be defined as a system of belief and practice by means of which a group of people struggle with these ultimate problems of human life”.

Characteristics of Religion:

1. Belief in supernatural power.
2. Sense of sacred and profane.
3. Sense of salvation.
4. Social control and direction.
5. Various religious thoughts.
6. Religious action.
7. Religious symbol.
8. Important social institution.
9. Religious taboos.
10. Religious worship, prayer and conciliation.
11. Spiritual Values.

Religion as a belief system:

Religion is a belief system, where any kind of objects are defined symbolically and worshiped faithfully. Actually, the belief on invisible power is religion. Thus, religion lives upon faith or the foundation for religion is trust, which can be found in the people with any religious background. From ancient time, people had beliefs upon religion. August Comte has said that religion and belief evolved from polytheism to monotheism along with the evolution to the society. Similarly, E B Tylor says that the human started believing animism at first then on polytheism and then monotheism. In this way, activities under each religion are associated with belief to some extent. Religion consists of belief like hell, heaven, sacred, profane, etc. Likewise, while applying religion in their economic, social, political and cultural life, people used to act as per the belief in that religion. Thus, religion can be taken as a system of belief, which is affected by traditional belief than scientific. People perform their social and cultural duties believing on rebirth. Due to such belief on rebirth, the help, donation and contribution to others is done in the society. Socialization as per such belief exists in society. Though quarrels, disputes, exploitations, disparities, appear in the name of religion these cannot be defined or interpreted as ideals of religion.

Religion as a factor of Generating Integration

Religion promotes social unity and belief in the  society. People of each class are unified by religion. It develops the functional perspective to each other. According to functionalist, religion has an important role in fulfilling the functional prerequisites in society. It also plays an important role in fulfilling the basic requirement in society.

Functional belief that certain kind of society unity, uniformality in social values and mutual cooperation is essential for the continuation of a society system. Religion always plays an important role I controlling the dysfunctions and maintaining social unit.

Various scholars have analyzed on the functional contribution of religion. Among them Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Talcott person are most important. In “The Elementary Form Of Social Life”, Durkheim has stated that society is divided on the basis of sacred and profane. Religion for him is such an integrated system of beliefs and behaviors which contributes particularly in developing a sacred society. Functionalists belief that the religion is important in the replacement of the worthy activities in the society. According to the Durkheim, social life is impossible without the social values, moral beliefs, collective conscience, and dutifulness, which are only found in religion. He has discussed religion as a means of social unity in this way:

1. Means of social control.
2. Means of systematizing social life.
3. Power and ideas for guiding human activities can be achieved through religion.

Malinowski has interpreted religion as a means of social unity in this way:

1. Marinating social unity.
2. Custom, way of application or way of using custom.
3. Guiding element of social life.
4. Element that lessen social life.
5. Develops mental satisfaction

With the help of religion, negative states, social evils and mental deviations can be controlled.

Persons also considered religion as an important  part of cultural system. According to his, religion beliefs motivate people in conducting moral activities. He has described religion on the following basis:

1. Means that maintain social unity.
2. Important part of cultural system.
3. Means of avoiding tensions.
4. Means of marinating social stability.
5. Means of social adjustment.

Religion as a factor of Generating Conflict:

Religion not only maintains the social unity but also creates sometime conflict due to the existing differences, oppressions, and inequalities within it. Marxist analysis based on idea that religion creates conflict in the society. As Marx says, “Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of heartless world and the soul of soulless condition. It is the opium of people”. According to Marxist perspective, religion is the means for ruling people to suppress the people. It exploits people making fake arguments and creating the imaginative world neglecting the human presence. It entangles people into the web of difficulties, hopelessness, exploitation, etc, muttering the abstract pleasure, peace and prosperity.

Engels has said that religion is not other than the false portraits of external powers in human mind, which dominates the daily human lives. In such portraits even the worldly powers transforms into unworldly forms. Marxist has blamed religion for distributing the role of change and progress. It is particularly the feudal and capitalist powers that take assistance of religion to continue the society without changing the society.

The role of religion, for Marxist is the major factor of opposition in social development cycle. Marxist perceives religion as a means of promoting conflict than maintaining unity in the society. Racial discrimination, caste discrimination, gender discrimination, development of imaginary concepts like heaven and hell, fatalistic thinking etc, which have been into existence even at the presence are the outcome of religion. Thus, racial wars, religious wars, gender movements etc are the result of religion. Religion promotes the domination of elite classes and ill-conscience within human beings.

 Secularization:

Secularization is such a process where a society is freed from domination of a single religion and where each and every religious and communities are treated and honored equally. This process in sociology and anthropology is related to cultural relativism, where each and every religion and communities are provided equal respects. The process of recognizing or emphasizing each and every religion equally by the state is called secularization. If only one religion is emphasized, the development of people adopting other religion is never possible. Social justice never prevails there. Spiritual bruises are likely to appear and racial unity is also weakened.

After the people’s movement of 2062/63 B S, Nepal which has long been called Hindu kingdom is also declared a secular state. This has conveyed a message that each and every religion is equal. This kind of culture strengthens religious unity, discourse and cooperation.

The desire in involvement in any of the religion, culture, and social system is the intrinsic rights of an individual. On the other, if the state consider much the specific religion, social dissatisfactions, misunderstandings, conflicts may arise, which sometimes hinder the national integrity. In non discriminated society neither state nor non state institutions can treat unequally to specific caste, religion and culture. Each people must have right to live and enjoy their religion; culture in this modern civilized society.

Significant of religion at household level:

Religion has an important role at family level. It has both direct and indirect relationship in household and family level activities. Each and all activities are affected by religion as religion and culture are interrelated with each other. A person in the family learns about the culture, values, beliefs, duties etc through religion. Religion has a direct impact in socialization process of an individual. Likewise household rituals like death rituals, birth rituals, festivals, exhibitions, fares, worshiping ceremonies, fasting etc are also affected by religion. Hence, household activities cannot be understood excluding them from religion.

Significant of religion at community:

Religion has also an effect in community. The significant of religion at community level can be described in this way:

1. Religion exists as a means of social unity.
2. Specific religion determines the specific cultural assumptions and systems.
3. Religion controls the possible misconducts in society.
4. Religion is the secondary means for moral built-up.
5. Social and cultural rituals based on religion provide unity, mobility, and ecstasy in society.
6. Religion has an important role in socialization process and development of personality of an individual.

Economic, social, political and cultural activities of a community are affected by religion. Since, a community depends upon internal relationships, if anybody acts against the religion that is boycotted by the society. If anybody tries to hinder others such activities are controlled by the society on the basis of religion.

Social significance of Religion at state level institution:

In traditional societies religion was the main base of ruling system. King was given prime emphasis in Hindu religion. Still in Bhutan, monarchy has been existed in the name of religion. But at the present, ruling a state in the name of religion is hardly seen. None of the presidents, prime ministers, ministers, or any other leaders appointed by the people is governed by religion. Generally, religious influences are common in countries with unitary ruling system. But, it has less influence in decentralized democratic and inclusive state structure.