what is risk society beck

The risk society, developed by two sociologists Ulrich Beck

and Anthony Giddens, is one of the most ambitious, expansive, and debated of the social theories of risk. It is a grand theory of society itself, concerned with the transition from modern industrial society to a new era distinguished much more by technological hazards.

Full Answer

What is Ulrich Beck's theory of risk?

Ulrich Beck is the contemporary theorist of modernity. He is a German sociologist who has written extensively about risk and globalization. He argues that the risk which is inherent in modern society would contribute towards the formation of a global risk society. In a modern society, there is technological change.

What is ‘risk society?

This essay will give brief context to the term coined by Ulrich Beck (1992), ‘risk society’, before it discusses the main characteristics of Beck’s theory; risk, individualisation and reflexive modernity, characteristics that all intertwine with one another.

What is the significance of the book Risk society by Beck?

Risikogesellschaft was published in English as Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity in 1992. The ecological crisis is central to this social analysis of the contemporary period. Beck argued that environmental risks had become the predominant product, not just an unpleasant, manageable side-effect, of industrial society.

What was Beck's contribution to the field of Economics?

Beck's main contribution was to build risk systematically into a theory of modern society and its dilemmas. Risk is seen as a defining feature of society itself, forming the dark side of industrial successes, technical and scientific progress, and economic growth.

What did Beck mean by risk society?

Risk society, explained Beck, is “an inescapable structural condition of advanced industrialization” and “Modern society has become a risk society in the sense that it is increasingly occupied with debating, preventing and managing risks that it itself has produced.” Beck contended that the changing nature of society's ...

What is an example of a risk society?

Some examples include pollution, toxins, congestion, crime (urbanization, inequalities). In what he refers to as 'modern' society, the production of goods and the distribution of wealth were of primary concern. That process has unfortunately led to the mass production of hazards, and they are not distributed randomly.

What does world risk society mean?

In a world risk society, we must distinguish between ecological and financial dangers, which can be conceptualized as side effects, and the threat from terrorist networks as intentional catastrophes; the principle of deliberately exploiting the vulnerability of modern civil society replaces the principle of chance and ...

Who gave the concept of risk society?

“Risk society,” “reflexive modernization,” and the “elevator effect”—these are some of the key concepts coined by German sociologist Ulrich Beck.

Are we living in a risk society?

We are all exposed to risk, because we all live in the risk society. Taking note of this is not only an act of responsibility, but it implies a strategic advantage. The ability to anticipate a risk lays precisely in not turning emergencies into social panic and fears into catastrophes.

When did risk society begin?

First, most of them contended that the risk society began around 30 years ago, at the end of the 1970s. Thirty years roughly corresponds to what sociologists would consider to be 'historical' time.

What is risk theory?

Risk theory attempts to explain the decisions people make when they are faced with uncertainty about the future. Typically, a situation in which risk theory may be applied involves a number of possible states of the world, a number of possible decisions and an outcome for each combination of state and decision.

What do you understand by modernity discuss with reference to the writings of Beck?

Beck has made his perspective on modernity very clear when he says that the new modernity has abandoned the old modernity and enables the individual to take his own decisions without any reference to his class or caste consideration. If his self-evaluation of society is faulty, he is likely to succumb to risk.

Who said modern society is a runaway society?

The title of Giddens' accessible modern classic 'Runaway World' immediately suggests to the reader that he perceives globalisation as an unpredictable, destabilsing process. In Giddens' own words: “We are the first generation to live in global society, whose contours we can as yet only dimly see.

In which year was the first German edition of risk society Risikogesellschaft published?

1986Within five years of being published in 1986 in Germany, Ulrich Beck's Risikogesellschaft – later translated in English as Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity ([1986] 1992.

What do you mean by modernity?

modernity, the self-definition of a generation about its own technological innovation, governance, and socioeconomics. To participate in modernity was to conceive of one's society as engaging in organizational and knowledge advances that make one's immediate predecessors appear antiquated or, at least, surpassed.

What is second modernity sociology?

Second modernity is marked by a new awareness of the risks — risks to all forms of life, plant, animal and human — created by the very successes of modernity in tackling the problem of human scarcity (Carrier and Nordmann 2011, 449).

How is the concept of risk society associated with modernity?

He argues that the risk which is inherent in modern society would contribute towards the formation of a global risk society. In a modern society, there is technological change. And technology produces new forms of risks and we are constantly required to respond and adjust to these changes.

Who said modern society is a runaway society?

The title of Giddens' accessible modern classic 'Runaway World' immediately suggests to the reader that he perceives globalisation as an unpredictable, destabilsing process. In Giddens' own words: “We are the first generation to live in global society, whose contours we can as yet only dimly see.

What is second modernity sociology?

Second modernity is marked by a new awareness of the risks — risks to all forms of life, plant, animal and human — created by the very successes of modernity in tackling the problem of human scarcity (Carrier and Nordmann 2011, 449).

What is risk society?

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 ...

Who published the risk society?

In 1986, right after the Chernobyl disaster, Ulrich Beck, a sociology professor at the University of Munich, published the original German text, Risikogesellschaft, of his highly influential and catalytic work (Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 1986). Risikogesellschaft was published in English as Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity in 1992.

What are the two types of risks that Giddens and Beck argued?

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.

What does Giddens argue about 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."

What is manufactured risk?

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.

What is Beck's theory of class structure?

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.

What is the ecological crisis?

The ecological crisis is central to this social analysis of the contemporary period. Beck argued that environmental risks had become the predominant product, not just an unpleasant, manageable side-effect, of industrial society.

What is the speciality of risk society?

Speciality of risk society: In classical or industrial society the ideal was equality. And, the notions of welfare, humanism, freedom and equality were inspired by enlightenment. This ideal is abandoned in the new modernity. In classical modernity people achieved solidarity to attain equality.

How are the risks in modern society created?

But, the risks in the modern society are created by our own social development and by the development of science and technology. Sometimes, we fail to ascertain the risk involved in a particular aspect of technology. For instance, no one quite knows what risks are involved in the production of genetically modified foods.

What is the risk of modern society?

What is particular about the modern risk society is that the hazards of risk do not remain restricted to one country only. In the age of globalization, these risks affect all countries and all social classes. They have global, not merely personal consequences.

What is Beck's new modernity?

Beck’s new modernity has emerged out of the industrial modernity. In this new modernity, the social relations and institutions have to be individually chosen. In fact, in this new modem society, social ties and connection have to be established, maintained and renewed by individuals themselves. The shift from industrial society to the risk society is a major break in the process of transformation.

What happens if a person's self-evaluation of society is faulty?

If his self-evaluation of society is faulty, he is likely to succumb to risk. Now, most of the risks emerge from the modernity in which he lives. The new modernity is different from the industrial modernity. In his own words:

How do rich nations profit from the risks?

Further, the rich nations profit from the risks they produce for example, by producing and selling technologies that help prevent risks from occurring or deal with their adverse effects once they do occur.

Does wealth accumulate at the top or bottom of the risk distribution?

These are not unrelated, says Beck: The history of risk distribution shows that, like wealth, risks adhere to the class pattern, only inversely; wealth accumulates at the top, risk at the bottom. To that extent, risks seem to strengthen, not to abolish, class society. Poverty attracts an unfortunate abundance of risks.

What is the criticism of Beck's risk society?

There is also some tension in his work between analysing the situation and advocating activism as a solution, with descriptive and prescriptive approaches often running side by side. Beck also confuses the concepts ‘risk’ and ‘hazard’, in some places suggesting that they are separate ideas, and at others assuming they are equal terms (Hannigan 1995, p. 24). A similar criticism is that the notion of the risk society is too vague to be of use: for example, his discussion of the role played by the media is not based on factual research or published data (Mooney and Evans 2007)

What is Beck's theory of risk management?

Beck seems to provide a comprehensive model of changing attitudes to risk, risk management, and society in general.Although his theory has its roots in concepts of risk management, it seems to offer a useful way of understanding modern society in general. Seen thus, it suggests that society as a whole is dominated by risks which both threaten physical life and livelihood, and also occupy the collective psyche.The existence of specifically modern threats such as global warming, increased mobility of disease and nuclear radiation seem to back up Beck’s claims (Rosa 2006). Beck himself suggests that his model offers a certain degree of positivism and hope, whereby reflexivity can help overcome the problems associated with globalisation and increased risk. He also seems to suggest it offers a way whereby the ideals of the Enlightenment can be kept alive, albeit in a way infused with a post-modern irony and self-criticism (Beck 1998).

What is the risk society theory?

The essay looks at Beck’s theory of the ‘risk society’, the idea that modern society is distinctly different from previous ages in the nature of risk, and attitudes to it. The theory also involves the idea that scepticism towards scientific reasoning and knowledge is increasing. Beck identified new types of risk associated with the modern age. These new risks have widespread potential repercussions, not restricted to one geographical location, to one particular time scale or to one social group. These new risks also require new strategies for management (Coaffee 2009). This essay will first briefly outline Beck’s theory, then takes a critical and analytic perspective on his idea.

What role does the media play in creating risk?

In terms of the role played by the media in creating risk, Beck suggests that “the mass media and the scientific and legal professions in charge of defining risks become key social and political positions ” . The media also provide the site within which risk is contextualised and debated, with a new potential for conflict between those who create risk definitions and those who are affected by them.

Is it acceptable to use insurance to protect against risks?

Beck suggests that there is a financial impact of this change in the nature of risk. Traditionally, it has been acceptable to use insurance to secure against risks. However, in the risk society, insuring against all types of risk is not possible (Coaffee 2009). As danger grows, so protection diminishes.

Is Beck's generalization of disease a new phenomenon?

However Turner (1994) points out that the globalisation of disease is not a new phenomenon , but one which has been in existence since trade and world travel started. Others point out that the only change is in the type of disease which spreads rapidly and offers risk: at one point it was the plague, at others syphilis, while today offers BSE and bird flu (Ihlen 2009). Turner (1994) also suggests that Beck is mistaken in his description of the ways in which standardisation and regulation have changed. Although global risks introduce a new level of uncertainty, evidence suggests that there is still an over-riding attempt to standardise worldwide (Martin and Johnson 2001)

What is the Beck theory?

Beck's theory represents a continuation of the German tradition of an ethical questioning of modernity, including science and technology, that runs from Max Weber (1864–19 29) through Jürgen Habermas (b. 1929). In contrast to postmodern theories that present late twentieth-century social transformations as going beyond modernism, Beck argues that modernity is going through an unintended and unseen phase that is forcing it to confront the premises and limits of its own model. Modernization has become, in his words, "reflexive." The concept of reflexive modernization, which was introduced by Beck and developed in a subsequent work with Anthony Giddens and Scott Lash (Beck, Giddens, and Lash 1994), propounds a "radicalization" of modernity in which the dynamics of individualization, globalization, gender revolution, underemployment, and global risks undermine the foundations of classical industrial modernity and make old concepts obsolete. The internal dynamism of modernity brings it up against the previously unknown possibility of global self-destruction as a result of the risks generated by certain technologies.

What is Beck's conceptualization?

Beck's conceptualization has inspired research that focuses on the implications of science and technology for the social and natural environment and on the increasing use of risk analysis in discussions of public policies related to science and technology, and which involve ethical questions.

Why is risk considered a probabilistic concept?

Because the concept of risk is probabilistic in nature, it tends to deny inherent uncertainties and place greater emphasis on scientific control over randomness, contingencies, and chance. In the vast literature on risk there are authors who argue, however, that the language of uncertainty would be more appropriate for a better understanding of the current world, full of indeterminacies and contingencies, whether inherent in the world or epistemic. Underlying this argument would be lack of knowledge of the statistical probability of many of the possible outcomes, public distrust of the estimates produced by experts, potential margins of error, and the random unpredictability of nature and human behavior (Martins 1998). This approach has affinities with the work of authors who underline the ontological nature of uncertainty that is inherent in the natural and social worlds and focus on "ignorance," "catastrophes," and "accidents" (see, for example, Perrow 1984). It differs from the work of those who stress above all the social perception of risks (such as Douglas and Wildavsky 1982).

Who coined the term "risk civilization"?

Important early contributions to the development of this analysis were the work of Patrick Lagadec (1981), who coined the term risk civilization, and that of Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky (1982). However, Ulrich Beck's Risk Society (1992), originally published in German in 1986, was the decisive contribution to a new theory of society.

Which disciplines have studied risk?

Many theoretical works in other disciplines had previously analyzed the risk concept, although more narrowly: economics, behavioral theory (in particular decision making and game theory), anthropology, and technology assessment.

Who wrote the Treatise of Probability?

Keynes, John Maynard. (1921). A Treatise of Probability. London: Macmillan.

Who wrote the essay Risk and Culture?

Douglas, Mary, and Aaron Wildavsky. (1982). Risk and Culture: An Essay on the Selection of Technical and Environmental Dangers. Berkeley and London: University of California Press.

What is the point of Beck's risk society?

However under the notion of Beck’s ‘risk society’, he argues that society is reshaping its social structure and thus creating more individualised social agents, as he concludes: “ individuals must then, free of these structures, reflexivity construct their own biographies ” (Beck, 1992: 3), making individualisation another main feature of Beck’s theory. Individualisation, as Lupton mentions is the ‘ private side of globalisation ’ (2002: 83).

Who coined the term "risk society"?

Ulrich Beck (1992) coined the term ‘risk society’, which is used to describe the type of risks that have primarily been created as a result of the industrialisation and modernisation processes. Beck (1992) examined the hazards of pre-industrial society to see whether they are just as damaging as the risks that we are facing in modernity.

What is the universal theory that Beck created?

This universal theory that Beck has created states that no one is safe from the harmful risk that new-modernity predicted, it has emerged on a global scale, making boundaries seem irrelevant , and for Beck this global scale was a by-product of ‘reflexive modernisation’.

What is the key element of Beck's debate?

Here Beck introduces another key element to his debate, the idea of ‘globalisation’. He argues that the risk of nuclear radiation, many modern technologies, the greater mobility of diseases, global warming, and invasive species affects everyone, globally.

Why is equality challenged by risk?

Equality therefore, is challenged by ‘risk’ because as a result of more decision making within the family, there has become more of a need for the correct balance of their desires of autonomy and self-expression, with their need for dependence and emotional stability that is established through the dependence of a secure relationship. For Beck refers to the ‘omni-dimensional’ (1992: 103) inequality of genders; arguing that the ‘epochal changes’ that we have encountered regarding law and education, are more apparent ‘on paper’ than the behaviour and beliefs of society, and rather than increasing equality, the paradoxical effect has intensified inequalities, with that new ‘personal risks’, like that of the insecurities related to employment and economy within new modernity.

Is "risk" a synonym for "dangerous"?

He, like most of society uses the term ‘risk’ as a synonym for danger, a danger that is caused through the need of ‘controlling’ certain aspects of society, in aid of heightening social security (Elliot, 2002). However Beck (1999) had previously stated that ‘ultimate security’ is unattainable to human beings.

Does risk surpassed inequality?

However ‘risk’ has not surpassed problems of inequality and distribution of goods, it has intensified them. For Marxist theoreticians the situation has became ambivalent; on the one hand income inequalities have remained unaltered, however the importance of the social class system seems to have been significantly reduced.

What is Beck's theory of risk?

Beck’s theory is based on the premise that the post-modernist world that we live considers safety and collective decision making on risk as more crucial than amassing wealth.

What is the risk society thesis?

Introduction The risk society thesis by Ulrich Beck has been one of the most extensively discussed frameworks in environmental management (Matten, 2004). Ulrich Beck who is a German sociologist is the up-to-date theorist of modernity. Beck maintains that the risk which is intrinsic in modern society characterized by technological industrialization produces new forms of global risk society. Beck’s theory is based on the premise that the post-modernist world that we live considers safety and collective decision making on risk as more crucial than amassing wealth. Therefore considering Beck’s thesis, it is still applicable or relevant to the third world and not just only limited to the so called industrialized (first world) countries or a particular social class since globalization has no boundaries. A good understanding of Beck’s thesis commences with an understanding of the explosion of industrial modernity and the manner it is overshadowing nature. Structure: This essay will begin by looking at definition of key terms used in this essay, followed by the concept of risk society and features of “risk society thesis” as constructed by Beck which has been an extensive frameworks discussed in environmental management. The essay will also tackle the current phenomenal manifestation of ‘risk’ and ‘globalization’ being “bedfellows” as consequences of modernization and has no boundaries. The essay will conclude by comparing developing and developed countries to see whether the

Why does Beck believe modernity is transformational?

Beck sees modernity as inherently transformational because change is built into the existing social systems, allowing for a process of constant renewal. Therefore, it is unsurprising that we should see the recurring emergence of new risks, as social life is changing to such an extent that existing social and political institutions cannot respond adequately to the uncertainties that modernity brings (O’Brien 1999). However, Beck’s critics would argue against his claim that the concept of class will no longer be adequate in understanding the new social reality that we are seeing emerge in risk society, because class continues to be of direct relevance to life-chances (Goldthorpe 2002). An individuals’ relative

Why is the human race dependent on the environment to stay favorable?

In the broad scoop of everything human race is depended on the environment to stay favorable because when it does not then the human race suffers. Diamond writes “The whole modern world has been shaped by lopsided outcomes.” (Diamond, 1999, p. 25). The “lopsided outcomes” he mentions has shaped what the human race is today. It is interesting to look at the realizations that the reason the human race developed the way it did is because of these chain of lopsided outcomes that led to favorable outcome for some. When applied to history it is seemly factual that the series of invites have led to the reason that humans beings are even where they are now.

What does Beck mean by "in advanced modernity, the social production of wealth is systematically accompanied by the social?

Beck says that ‘in advanced modernity, the social production of wealth is systematically accompanied by the social production of risks.’ Where (economic) scarcity (and poverty) reigns, modernization penetrates-offering promises of wealth through scientific and technological advances. That’s what the international development model has all been about, and we’ve discussed how the model, market economies, technologies, all have cultural baggage that goes with them and may be incompatible with other cultures.

Why is industrial society a risk?

But why risk? Beck says industrial society is producing many risks. Some examples include pollution, toxins, congestion, crime (urbanization, inequalities). In what he refers to as ‘modern’ society, the production of goods and the distribution of wealth were of primary concern. That process has unfortunately led to the mass production of hazards, and they are not distributed randomly. In fact, in some cases, they’re global in nature–something happens in one part of the world can affect people in another part, and even the producers of risks may themselves be at risk. Science has attempted at least outwardly to ‘tame’ risks. Think of the POET model and technology. But at the same time, many of the risks that need taming were products of technological development and this ‘modernization’ process. And we have discussed at length the biggest risk–that climate change may render the planet inhospitable to human habitation, at least in the numbers to which we’ve grown accustomed.

What does risk assessment tell us?

Risk assessment often uses ‘average’ exposure to risks to tell us about whether something is hazardous. For instance, here’s a line from Beck’s book from a German government agency’s report:

Is risk evenly distributed?

Risks are not distributed evenly–we talked about this under the headings of environmental justice and racism

Is risk personal or individual?

Risk is no longer just personal, individual – there are risks that we share (free riders, commons)-for example SARS, Mad Cow, global warming, nuclear fallout, deforestation, water shortages.

Is average risk misleading?

Averages can be misleading. For instance the average per capita income of a country wouldn’t identify gross inequalities (a different measure, such as media income, might). Averages don’t tell us about distributions. But we often talk in parts per million in the atmosphere, for instance, even if we know that some areas are much more likely to have toxins than others. This gets at the notion of ‘average’ risk as misleading, but even the ‘average risk’ levels may be lethal for some groups (e.g., people with compromised immune systems may die from West Nile Virus ).

Reflexive 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.

An Expanded Concept of Risk

Developments and Implications

Bibliography