Yes — exactly.
When we Examine or Explore the Social System in terms of the AGIL model, we are talking about the internal AGIL functions of the Social System itself, not the AGIL of society as a whole.
This is a nested / recursive systems analysis.
✅ Key Idea: Each Subsystem Has Its Own Internal AGIL
Parsons’ systems theory is holistic AND recursive:
- Society as a whole performs AGIL.
- Each subsystem (political, economic, social, cultural) also performs its own micro-AGIL internally.
- Even smaller units (institutions, organizations, families) have AGIL requirements.
So the Social System, being a subsystem, must also internally fulfill:
- A – Adaptation
- G – Goal Attainment
- I – Integration
- L – Latency
This is why Parsons is often described as building a “theory of nested systems”.
🔍 What Does AGIL Look Like Inside the Social System?
If we analyze the Social System (family, community, norms, roles, socialisation) with AGIL:
A — Adaptation (Resource Environment for Socialisation)
- Social system adapts by absorbing cultural information, maintaining institutions like family, schools, media.