Alyssa NewtonSocial TheoryProfessor Miller04/01/14Discussion Question #8Week 11 #1:What is mechanical solidarity and give an example of it and explain how itguides society. Explain how rituals can be a weapon of domination. How can it be thebasis of conflict? Explain.Mechanical solidarity according to Durkheim has to do with a more legalisticsociety. Those groups that are focused on the rituals and letter of the law rather than aholistic approach fall into this category. While in a different type of society the situationand all aspects of the problem would be necessary for a judgment, the social structurerelated to mechanical solidarity judges based on rules only.The first thing that comes to mind considering such a society is the people atWestboro Baptist Church. I saw an interview once with a young woman who had grownup in that community. She explained that even an innocent question of rituals or theology
