Structural–Functional Analysis and the Study of Political Systems in the Developing World: Strengths, Limitations, and Disciplinary Positioning The mid-twentieth century witnessed a paradigmatic shift in political science as scholars grappled with the inadequacy of formal–legal institutionalism to capture the dynamics of rapidly decolonising states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Structural–functional analysis, pioneered by Gabriel … Continue reading Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of structural–functional analysis as a framework for understanding political systems in the developing world. Discuss how the structural–functional framework attempts to bridge the gap between traditional institutionalism and behavioralism in political science.