Risk Society An Overview

Introduction Both Risk Society and Governmentality are macro- oriented theories Cognitive science focuses on the micro level Both focus on new risks in a new era in history – that is, beginning in the 1950s and 1960s One big difference: Realist/objective vs. relativist/subjective views on risk Cognitive science sort of focuses on both with experts as realists and laypeople as relativists Risk Society – risks are real and constructed; there are real risks, but risks are filtered through culture Governmentality – risks are constructed; the focus is on how elites use risk to govern

Stages in Western History Classical antiquity – roughly 800 BC to 476 AD Middle Ages – 476 to roughly 1500; named during the early modern period, people wanted a to make a break from this challenging period in history – Early – (476 to 1000) – High – (1000 to 1300) – Late – (1300 to 1500) – the focus of our reading by Muchembled A period of great upheaval and disaster The Muchembled reading focuses on insecurity (physical and psychological) as well as what people did to deal with a dangerous world (e.g., belief in magic, religion, community) You should be able to describe the risks and how they differ from risks in post-modernity You should also be able to describe what people did to deal with a dangerous world Modernity – Early modern – (1500 to 1800) – Late modern – ( ) – Post-modern – beginning in 1950s and 1960s

Stages in Western History Our focus was on how people’s perceptions of risk have changed over these periods (we covered this on the first exam; it is covered in Chapter 2 of our book) These stages are important again as we discuss Risk Society Theory and Governmentality – both focus on changes that have occurred, especially in the post-modern era

Risk Society Theory Chapter 3 lays out the basic arguments (in the two short sections that are required reading) Dangers – ‘caused by nature’ (47) Risks – ‘manufactured or fabricated uncertainties’ (47) We have entered a new era where we face unprecedented risks – Ecological – Financial – Terror – Biographical These new risks are the unintended consequences of technology and modernization

Risk Society Theory Similarities in the new risks and how they differ from risks in the past (I’m summarizing from chapter 3) – They are side effects of technology and scientific modernization; unintended, self-inflicted consequences of progress – They are not immediately evident to the senses; we often need scientific tests to identify them – The potential magnitude of the disasters is incalculable; they could wipe out the human race – They have long-term effects This makes it difficult to calculate probabilities of risk and they are not manageable by usual strategies Scientists/experts disagree and contradict each other – there is a crisis in science It is difficult to identify who is responsible – The disasters are global in scale They are harder for people to avoid They are not contained in national borders (non-local) – A change is required if the human race is to survive

Risk Society Theory Reflexive modernization Two stages – Reflex stage – risks are created by modernization, but they are not recognized – Reflection stage (second modernity) – we begin to view our society as a risk society; growing realization of the dangers; critical reflection » People must deal with constant insecurity and uncertainty » Conventional social order is breaking down » Conflict between lay people and experts » Risk becomes political

Risk Society Theory Individualization – breaking down of traditional norms and values; there are new personal risks (work and family) that raise awareness of global risks In the pre-modern world – ‘structuring institutions’ (e.g., gender, class) largely determined one’s fate at birth Structuring institutions have less of an impact on one’s ‘biography’ now People now must create their own destinies, but – Work – stable employment is not a given, people must make up their own opportunities, they have to be flexible and entrepreneurial – Relationships – people have greater freedom to pursue autonomy and self-improvement in relationships, which leads to greater conflict New risks from this: – Unemployment, underemployment, marriage instability, family breakdown, anxiety, insecurity – Life is less certain even though we control more The consequences: – With increased exposure to uncertainty in work and family, we become preoccupied with large scale risks to society as a whole (see a link to cognitive science?) – Risk consciousness can lead to the change that is needed » Ecological enlightenment » Cosmopolitanisation of political outlooks (we need global institutions and global solutions) » New forms of global civil society and polity Examples: Anti-globalization movements, International Criminal Court, United Nations

Interesting Themes from Chapter 4 Nature – ‘nature’ is an ambiguous term – In here – Out there – Deep ecology/fragility; robust and exploitability – The connection between culture and nature (also covered in the ‘risks as hybrids’ section) Complexity – Complex technical systems are ‘tightly coupled’ – Accidents are normal Vulnerability – Although new risks (e.g., radiation from a nuclear accident) are democratic (i.e., they are difficult to contain in space), people and societies have different resources to deal with risk