Social Theories of Risk and Uncertainty An

Written by leading experts in the field, Social Theories of Risk and Uncertainty is an introduction to mainstream theorizing on risk and uncertainty in sociology. The book provides an overview of the historical developments and conceptual aspects of risk, identifies why theorizing on risk is necessary, and highlights specific sociological contributions to this field of research. Individual chapters explore key topics including risk society and reflexive modernization, culture and risk, governmentality and risk, systems theory and risk, and edgework and voluntary risk taking.This volume is an excellent resource that offers a clear understanding of risk from a social science perspective and establishes the basis for further theorizing and future research. Ultimately it offers a comprehensive look at the promises, pitfalls, and perspectives of risk theorizing.

Jens O. Zinn is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent, Canterbury. He is currently researching the development of risk theorizing as part of the ESRC priority network Social Contexts and Responses to Risk (SCARR). He has founded research networks on the Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty within the International Sociological Association (ISA) and the European Sociological Association (ESA).

List of Tables	p. viii
List of Contributors	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction: The Contribution of Sociology to the Discourse on Risk and Uncertainty	p. 1
Why Theorize Risk and Uncertainty?	p. 2
The Conceptualization of Risk	p. 3
The Historical Development of the Notion of "Risk"	p. 7
The Sociological Contribution to Interdisciplinary Risk Research	p. 10
Sociological Streams of Theorizing Risk and Uncertainty	p. 15
Risk Society and Reflexive Modernization	p. 18
From Risk Society and Individualization to Reflexive Modernization	p. 20
The Power of New Risks: the Enforced Risk Society	p. 23
The Self-Transformation of the Social: Institutional Individualism	p. 30
The Political within Risk Society and Reflextive Modernization	p. 37
Risks and Uncertainties in Reflexive Modernity	p. 43
Critique	p. 46
Perspectives	p. 48
Further Reading	p. 49
Governmentality and Risk	p. 52
Risk in the Development of Governmentality	p. 57
From Risk to "the Risk Society"?	p. 64
Risk and Liberal Governmentality	p. 69
Risk and Uncertainty	p. 72
Conclusions	p. 73
Further Reading	p. 75
Systems Theory and Risk	p. 76
Modernity, Decision Making, and Risk	p. 80
The Time Dimension: Modernity	p. 83
The Material Dimension: Risk and Danger	p. 87
The Social Dimension: Conflicts	p. 90
Beyond Classical Topics of Risk Research	p. 95
Conclusion	p. 100
Further Reading	p. 102
Edgework, Risk, and Uncertainty	p. 106
Voluntary Risk Taking in Late Modernity	p. 107
Development of the Edgework Concept	p. 110
Theorizing Edgework	p. 113
The Structural Context of Voluntary Risk Taking	p. 122
Conclusions	p. 133
Further Reading	p. 135
Culture and Risk	p. 138
Mary Douglas and Cultural Boundaries	p. 141
Ulrich Beck and Risk Society	p. 146
Risk and Governmentality	p. 152
Critical Realism and Left Criminology	p. 156
The Writer as Risk Victim and Academic	p. 160
Conclusion	p. 165
Further Reading	p. 167
A Comparison of Sociological Theorizing on Risk and Uncertainty	p. 168
Theoretical Contexts of Risk Theorizing	p. 168
Epistemology of Risk	p. 172
The Theoretical Positioning of Risk	p. 180
Promises, Pitfalls, and Perspectives of Risk Theorizing	p. 200
Glossary	p. 211
References	p. 223
Index	p. 243
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Social Theories of Risk and Uncertainty An Introduction

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