Social Theories of Risk -

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Résumé :
The social science approach to risk has matured over the past two decades, with distinct paradigms developing in disciplines such as anthropology, economics, geography, psychology, and sociology. Social Theories of Risk traces the intellectual origins and histories of twelve of the established and emerging paradigms from the perspective of their principal proponents. Each contributor examines the underlying assumptions of his or her paradigm, the foundational issue it seeks to address, and likely future directions of research. Taken together, these essays illustrate that the principal achievement of social sciences has been to broaden the debate about risk beyond the narrow, technical considerations of engineers and the physical and life sciences. The authors conclude that expert knowledge is not value-free, that public perceptions of and attitudes toward risks vary according to a wide range of social, psychological, and cultural variables, and that public opposition to particular risks cannot be assuaged by technical fixes. The essays reveal the circuitous paths that lead people to the study of risk, highlight how these paths have crossed and discuss some of the seminal influences on individuals and the field in general. Social Theories of Risk presents a broad, retrospective view of the state of the theory in the social sciences, written by many who have been on the cutting edge of risk research since its early days. The book includes both established and novel perspectives that address the theoretical foundations of the field and reflect what we know about risk as a psychological, social, and cultural phenomenon. The collection of papers not only informs us of the tributary ideas that spawned the social studies of risk, but also how the field has matured. The biographical flavor of the essays provides fascinating reading for established members of the field, and a valuable entree for newcomers. It is an ideal college text for courses in the history of science, environmental policy, and science, technology, and society, as well as the burgeoning array of more specialized courses in risk assessment and management....

Sommaire:

Preface
Conceptual and Historical Perspectives
The Role of Theory in Risk Studies by Sheldon Krimsky
A Social and Programmatic History of Risk Research by Dominic Golding
Concepts of Risk: A Classification by Ortwin Renn
Social, Cultural, and Psychological Paradigms
Cultural Theory and Risk Analysis by Steve Rayner
Perceptions of Risk: Reflections on the Psychometric Paradigm by Paul Slovic
The Social Amplification of Risk: Progress in Developing an Integrative Framework by Roger Kasperson
The Social Arena Concept of Risk Debates by Ortwin Renn
Social Drama and Risk Evaluation by Ingar Palmlund
The Role of Science in Risk Assessment
Public Wisdom, Expert Fallibility: Toward a Conceptual Theory of Risk by Harry J. Otway
Heuristics, Biases, and the Not-so-general Publics: Expertise and Error in the Assessment of Risks by William R. Freudenburg
Three Types of Risk Assessment and the Emergence of Post-normal Science by Silvio O. Funtowicz and Jerome R. Ravetz
Risk and Social Learning: Reification to Engagement by Brian Wynne
Policy and Decision Frameworks
A Conceptual Framework for Managing Low-Probability Events by Howard Kunreuther
Expert Knowledge and Public Values in Risk Management: The Role of Decision Analysis by Detlof von Winterfeldt
Inconsistent Values in Risk Management by Chris Whipple
Reflections by Sheldon Krimsky and Dominic Golding
Bibliography
Index