GINO GERMANI AND FUNCTIONALISM. A REFLECTION ON THE USE OF THE CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL CLASSES, MOBILITY AND STRATIFICATION IN THE EMPIRICAL STUDIES ABOUT THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF ARGENTINA (1955-1966)

Abstract

In this article we propose, on the one hand, to tackle the concepts of stratification, social classes and social mobility present in some of the documents published by Gino Germani in the framework of his empirical research during the period in which it is consolidated in Argentina his project of a “scientific sociology” (1955-1966). On the other hand, we aim to advance in a sketch of analysis of the links, references, influences, present in these studies pointing out points of contact and leakage with the theories from which it draws. For this, we propose a selection of texts that we consider relevant to account for, in a first approximation, the particularities of this part of the germanian work. This selection goes in the direction of our working hypothesis: that in what refers to the conceptualization of the elements that make up the social structure, Germani feeds, fundamentally, in functionalism. But that, however, does not mean a flat adherence to a certain paradigm, but supposes an entirely pragmatic conceptual use.