Social systems theory may refer to one of the following theories:
Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems Actor–network theory, a theoretical and methodological approach to social theory where everything in the social and natural worlds exists in constantly shifting networks of relationships Conflict theories, perspectives in political philosophy and sociology that argue that individuals and groups within society interact on the basis of conflict rather than agreement Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects Ecological systems theory, a theory in developmental psychology Social network analysis, the analysis of social structures using network and graph theory Structural functionalism, a theoretical framework for constructing theories that views society as an intricate system where its components collaborate to foster unity and stability Symbolic interactionism, a sociological theory focused on cultural symbols exchanged during interpersonal interactions Systems theory, a transdisciplinary study of systems World-systems theory, an approach emphasizing the world-system as the primary unit of social analysis