This chapter navigates the landscape of sociological theories of development through the lens of the functionalist perspective. The introduction provides a contextual overview of the era and key thinkers that shaped this perspective. It examines Durkheim’s functional imperatives, which underscore the formation of organic solidarity and constitutive practices, alongside the role of industrialization in fostering advanced division of labor, indicating a modern form of social development. However, Durkheim’s theory of anomie, crime, and suicide in connection with industrial modernization exposes significant drawbacks of development, shedding light on societal aspects influencing progress. Additionally, Talcott Parsons’s views of development, rooted in theories of action systems and social systems as functional imperatives, are analyzed. He elucidates development through the theory of pattern variables, suggesting that the diffusion of social values could foster development in any society. Nevertheless, this chapter critically evaluates Parsonian logic, revising the analysis through a critical examination of capitalism and highlighting limitations in the practical implications of system theory and pattern variables. Through this analysis, this chapter offers insights into the strengths and limitations of the functionalist perspective in understanding sociological theories of development.