Jeffrey Alexander

Jeffrey C. Alexander developed the 'strong program' to argue that culture is an independent, overarching structure that shapes society, rather than just a reflection of economic or political forces. This approach suggests that cultural meanings and symbols form their own autonomous dimension that deeply influences social action.

Early in his career, Alexander sought to reconstruct the classical functionalist tradition of Talcott Parsons by making it more flexible and multidimensional. This framework, known as neofunctionalism, aimed to integrate elements of conflict theory and micro-sociology into Parsons's original macroscopic model.

Alexander founded and directs the Center for Cultural Sociology at Yale University, where he has been a professor for decades. The center serves as a major hub for scholars dedicated to applying his 'strong program' to empirical research on civil society, media, and the arts.

In his 2006 book 'The Civil Sphere,' Alexander argues that democratic societies rely on a distinct cultural sphere governed by shared ideals of liberty, equality, and justice. He analyzes how this sphere interacts with non-civil institutions like the state or the market to sustain social solidarity.