Coser's Greedy Institutions

In “Greedy Institutions: Patterns of Undivided Commitment”, Coser argues that certain institutions, which he calls greedy institutions, claim members as their own by making “total claims” on them (1974). He would suggest that the required exclusivity and loyalty of greedy institutions eliminate the potential role conflict that occurs because of the intersection of different social circles (1974). In a world with increasingly more potential for role conflict, these institutions debatably need to do this in order to stay afloat. To backup his claims, he uses examples throughout history as well as comparing greedy institutions to Goffman’s coined term, total institutions (1974). Coser’s argument throughout “Greedy Institutions” is valid and fairly convincing, but his evidence lacks realistic examples that lay people would understand and connect to.
By beginning with information about groups and membership that a majority of people experience, he captures his readers (1974). He then proceeds to transitions into his argument about greedy institutions by clearly defining it (1974). Coser gives examples of “totalistic claims”, primarily those that are religious, to illustrate his point about these institutions (1974). Finally, he compares greedy institutions to Goffman’s total institutions, predominately by discussing the differences (1974). The vocabulary in his article does not confuse the reader and aids in his argument by being straightforward. Throughout “Greedy Institutions”, Coser offers a convincing argument about greedy institutions by using an organized structure and being clear-cut with his writing, but he comes up short in one