Risk society is the manner in which modern society organizes in response to risk. The term is closely associated with several key writers on modernity, in particular Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens. The term was coined in the 1980s and its popularity during the 1990s was both as a consequence of its links to trends in thinking about wider modernity, and also to its links to popular discourse, in particular the growing environmental concerns during the period. Caplan, p.7. Definition According to  British sociologist Anthony Giddens, a risk society is "a society increasingly preoccupied with the future (and also with safety), which generates the notion of risk , " Giddens and Pierson 1998, p.209. whilst the German sociologist Ulrich Beck defines it as "a systematic way of dealing with hazards and insecurities induced and introduced by modernisation itself" (Beck 1992:21) . Beck (1992:50) defined modernization as, Modernity and realism in science Beck and Giddens both approach the risk society firmly from the perspective of modernity, "a shorthand term for modern society or industrial civilization. .. modernity ] is vastly more dynamic than any previous type of social order. It is a society ... which unlike any preceding culture lives in the future rather than the past." (Anthony Giddens)Giddens and Pierson p.94. They also draw heavily on the concept of reflexivity, the idea that as a society examines itself, it in turn changes itself in the process. In classical industrial society, the modernist view is based on assumption of realism in science creating a system in which scientists work in an exclusive, inaccessible environment of modern period. Giddens and Beck argued that whilst humans have always been subjected to a level of risk – such as natural disasters – these have usually been perceived as produced by non-human forces. Modern societies, however, are exposed to risks such as pollution, newly discovered illnesses, crime, that are the result of the modernization process itself. Giddens defines these two types of risks as external risks and manufactured risks. Giddens, 1999. Manufactured risks are marked by a high level of human agency involved in both producing, and mitigating such risks. As manufactured risks are the product of human activity, authors like Giddens and Beck argue that it is possible for societies to assess the level of risk that is being produced, or that is about to be produced. This sort of reflexive introspection can in turn alter the planned activities themselves. As an example, due to disasters such as Chernobyl and the Love Canal Crisis, public faith in the modern project has declined leaving public distrust in industry, government and experts. Giddens, 1990. There are differing opinions as to how the concept of a risk society interacts with social hierarchies and class distinctions. Caplan, p.6. Most agree that social relations have altered with the introduction of manufactured risks and reflexive modernization. Risks, much like wealth, are distributed unevenly in a population and will influence quality of life. Beck has argued that older forms of class structure – based mainly on the accumulation of wealth – atrophy in a modern, risk society, in which people occupy social risk positions that are achieved through risk aversion. "In some of their dimensions these follow the inequalities of class and strata positions, but they bring a fundamentally different distribution logic into play". Beck , p.23. Beck contends that widespread risks contain a 'boomerang effect' , in that individuals producing risks will also be exposed to them. This argument suggests that wealthy individuals whose capital is largely responsible for creating pollution will also have to suffer when, for example, the contaminants seep into the water supply. This argument may seem oversimplified, as wealthy people may have the ability to mitigate risk more easily by, for example, buying bottled water. Beck, however, has argued that the distribution of this sort of risk is the result of knowledge, rather than wealth. Whilst the wealthy person may have access to resources that enable him or her to avert risk, this would not even be an option were the person unaware that the risk even existed. However, risks do not only affect those of a certain social class or place, as risk is not missed and can affect everyone regardless of societal class; no one is free from risk. By contrast, Giddens has argued that older forms of class structure maintain a somewhat stronger role in a risk society, now being partly defined "in terms of differential access to forms of self-actualization and empowerment". Giddens 1991, p. 6. Giddens has also tended to approach the concept of a risk society more positively than Beck, suggesting that there "can be no question of merely taking a negative attitude towards risk. Risk needs to be disciplined, but active risk-taking is a core element of a dynamic economy and an innovative society." Giddens, Runaway World, 1999, p.29. Notes References Caplan, Pat 'Introduction: Risk Revisited' in Caplan, Pat (ed) 'Risk Revisited', Pluto Press: London (2000). Ericson, R.V.%DIFDELCMD < & %%% K. Haggerty. 1997. Policing the Risk Society. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Giddens, Anthony (1990) Consequences of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press. Giddens, Anthony (1991) Modernity and Self-Identity. Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Cambridge: . Giddens, Anthony and Christopher Pierson (1998) Making Sense of Modernity: Conversations with Anthony Giddens Giddens, Anthony (1998) The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy. Cambridge : Polity. Giddens, Anthony (1999) "Risk and Responsibility" Modern Law Review 62(1): 1-10. Giddens, Anthony (1999) Runaway World: How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives. London : Profile. Ulrich Beck (1992) Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. New Delhi: Sage. (Translated from the German Risikogesellschaft) 1986. External links Leiss, W. Ulrich Beck, Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity. Featured Book Reviews. Canadian Journal of Sociology, Online edition. Category:Society Category:  Social philosophy Category: Risk Category:Modernity
Risk society is the manner in which modern society organizes in response to risk. The term is closely associated with several key writers on modernity, in particular Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens. The term was coined in the 1980s and its popularity during the 1990s was both as a consequence of its links to trends in thinking about wider modernity, and also to its links to popular discourse, in particular the growing environmental concerns during the period. Definition According to the British sociologist Anthony Giddens, a risk society is "a society increasingly preoccupied with the future (and also with safety), which generates the notion of risk " , whilst the German sociologist Ulrich Beck defines it as "a systematic way of dealing with hazards and insecurities induced and introduced by modernisation itself" . Beck defined modernization as, Modernity and realism in science Beck and Giddens both approach the risk society firmly from the perspective of modernity, "a shorthand term for modern society or industrial civilization. .. . M]odernity is vastly more dynamic than any previous type of social order. It is a society ... which unlike any preceding culture lives in the future rather than the past." They also draw heavily on the concept of reflexivity, the idea that as a society examines itself, it in turn changes itself in the process. In classical industrial society, the modernist view is based on assumption of realism in science creating a system in which scientists work in an exclusive, inaccessible environment of modern period. Giddens and Beck argued that whilst humans have always been subjected to a level of risk – such as natural disasters – these have usually been perceived as produced by non-human forces. Modern societies, however, are exposed to risks such as pollution, newly discovered illnesses, crime, that are the result of the modernization process itself. Giddens defines these two types of risks as external risks and manufactured risks. Manufactured risks are marked by a high level of human agency involved in both producing, and mitigating such risks. As manufactured risks are the product of human activity, authors like Giddens and Beck argue that it is possible for societies to assess the level of risk that is being produced, or that is about to be produced. This sort of reflexive introspection can in turn alter the planned activities themselves. As an example, due to disasters such as Chernobyl and the Love Canal Crisis, public faith in the modern project has declined leaving public distrust in industry, government and experts. There are differing opinions as to how the concept of a risk society interacts with social hierarchies and class distinctions. Most agree that social relations have altered with the introduction of manufactured risks and reflexive modernization. Risks, much like wealth, are distributed unevenly in a population and will influence quality of life. Beck has argued that older forms of class structure – based mainly on the accumulation of wealth – atrophy in a modern, risk society, in which people occupy social risk positions that are achieved through risk aversion. "In some of their dimensions these follow the inequalities of class and strata positions, but they bring a fundamentally different distribution logic into play". Beck contends that widespread risks contain a "boomerang effect" , in that individuals producing risks will also be exposed to them. This argument suggests that wealthy individuals whose capital is largely responsible for creating pollution will also have to suffer when, for example, the contaminants seep into the water supply. This argument may seem oversimplified, as wealthy people may have the ability to mitigate risk more easily by, for example, buying bottled water. Beck, however, has argued that the distribution of this sort of risk is the result of knowledge, rather than wealth. Whilst the wealthy person may have access to resources that enable him or her to avert risk, this would not even be an option were the person unaware that the risk even existed. However, risks do not only affect those of a certain social class or place, as risk is not missed and can affect everyone regardless of societal class; no one is free from risk. By contrast, Giddens has argued that older forms of class structure maintain a somewhat stronger role in a risk society, now being partly defined "in terms of differential access to forms of self-actualization and empowerment". Giddens has also tended to approach the concept of a risk society more positively than Beck, suggesting that there "can be no question of merely taking a negative attitude towards risk. Risk needs to be disciplined, but active risk-taking is a core element of a dynamic economy and an innovative society." %DIFDELCMD < & %%% References Footnotes Bibliography Further reading Category:Modernity Category:Risk Category: Social philosophy Category: Society
D
Caplan, p.7.
A
the
D
,
R
Giddens and Pierson 1998, p.209.
,
D
(Beck 1992:21)
D
(1992:50)
R
modernity
.
A
M
A
odernity
D
(Anthony Giddens)Giddens and Pierson p.94.
D
Giddens, 1999.
D
Giddens, 1990.
D
Caplan, p.6.
D
, p.23. Beck
R
'boomerang effect'
"boomerang effect"
D
1991, p. 6. Giddens
D
Giddens, Runaway World, 1999, p.29.
D
Notes
D
References Caplan, Pat 'Introduction: Risk Revisited' in Caplan, Pat (ed) 'Risk Revisited', Pluto Press: London (2000). Ericson, R.V.
R
K. Haggerty. 1997. Policing the Risk Society. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Giddens, Anthony (1990) Consequences of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press. Giddens, Anthony (1991) Modernity and Self-Identity. Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Cambridge: . Giddens, Anthony and Christopher Pierson (1998) Making Sense of Modernity: Conversations with Anthony Giddens Giddens, Anthony (1998) The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy. Cambridge : Polity. Giddens, Anthony (1999) "Risk and Responsibility" Modern Law Review 62(1): 1-10. Giddens, Anthony (1999) Runaway World: How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives. London : Profile. Ulrich Beck (1992) Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. New Delhi: Sage. (Translated from the German Risikogesellschaft) 1986.
References Footnotes
R
External links Leiss, W. Ulrich Beck, Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity. Featured Book Reviews. Canadian Journal of Sociology, Online edition.
Bibliography
R
Category:Society Category:
Further reading
A
Category:Modernity Category:Risk Category:
R
Risk Category:Modernity
Society