Final answer:
Functionalists, with their focus on social functions and evolution of society, are often criticized for overlooking the role of power in the development of social structures. Contrarily, Marxist and critical theorists highlight the interplay between knowledge and power, emphasizing its significance in shaping societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theorist who overlooked the significance of power in their theoretical vision of a universal society can be linked to the tradition of functionalism. Later theorists criticized functionalism for its ahistorical approach, which involved research that often did not take into account historical experiences or the power dynamics resulting from interactions, such as colonialism. This critique implies that functionalists may have neglected the role of power to a great extent in their conception of society, looking instead at systems of social functions without adequately considering the implications of power and inequality.
Both Marxist theorists and members of the critical theory movement, in contrast, emphasized the interplay between knowledge and power systems in society, suggesting that power dynamics are crucial in shaping social structures and ideas. Their focus diverged significantly from that of the functionalists, who were more likely to assume that societies naturally evolve toward complexity and stratification, potentially overlooking the forceful imposition of power by dominant groups.