Abstract: Structural functionalism once prevailed and occupied the mainstream of social science research. However, due to its expertise in macro analysis and lack of attention to individual actions, it has been widely criticized. More and more researchers leave alone the shackles of structure, system, value, culture, etc., and focus on specific action and event study. The micro exquisite research paradigm thus has been a tide. On the whole, though there lies a gap between structural functionalism and its criticism, the two are complementary, rather than threatens to each other. It should be noted that all actors are within the structure, and their behaviors are inevitably explained by the structure. Due to the different division of labor, it is structuralism rather than other doctrines that can abstract society with a theoretical approach. Introducing process into structural analysis and constructing a “structure process” analysis paradigm can activate detailed action elements while linking general structures. In the great age, it is possible for researchers to analyze big issues and produce big theories by adopting the structure-process paradigm.

Key words: structural functionalism, structuralism, structure-process, political process