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• Risk society


  The manner in which modern society organizes in response to risks
• Risk society (according to Giddens)


  • A society increasingly preoccupied with the "future" and "safety", which generates the notion of risk
• Risk society (according to Beck)


  • A systematic way of dealing with hazards and insecurities induced and introduced by modernization itself
• Two types of risks


  • External risks (risks produced by non-human forces)
  • Manufactured risks (risks produced due to human activities, result of the modernization process itself)
• External risks


  • Famine
  • Volcanic Eruption
  • Storm
  • Tsunami
• Manufactured risks


  • Pollution
  • Hybristic Diseases
  • Crimes
• Risks in risk society


  • Risks are, to a large degree, being produced by sources of wealth in modern society
  • Industry and its side effects are producing a wide range of hazardous, even deadly, consequences for society and, as a result of globalization for the world as a whole
• Developed countries vs Developing countries


  Risks are centered in poor nations, while the rich nations are able to push many risks as far away as possible. Furthermore, rich nations profit from the risks they produce
• Developed countries profiting from risks


  • Producing goods that they package as "good for the environment" (e.g. Eco Bags, Metallic Straws, Organic Tissues) while not addressing the real issue
• Boomerang effect (according to Beck)


  • Widespread risks contain a "Boomerang Effect" – individuals producing the risks will also be exposed to them
• Risks do not only affect certain social classes or places. Risk is not biased and can affect everybody no matter your class. Nobody is free from risks.
• Relationship between nature and society (according to Beck)


  • In Classical Industrial Societies, nature and society were separated, but in Advanced Industrial Societies, they are deeply intertwined. Nature has been politicized with the result that natural scientists, like social scientists, have had their work politicized.
• Examples of nature and society being intertwined


  • Dengvaxia issue in the Philippines where Doctors argue on the truthfulness of the claim that it caused the death of several children
  • Global Warming (Inconvenient Truth) in the US is perceived as a propaganda of Al Gore to win the Presidential seat
• Coping with risks


  • Advanced modernization produces the reflexivity that allows it to question itself and the risk it produces
  • Reflexive introspection - the idea that as a society examines itself, it in turn changes itself in the process
• Examples of reflexive introspection


  • Technological advancements led to the creation of Nuclear Power Plants, but social concerns on safety and security led to the strict regulation of these plants
  • Modernization of the Philippines led to environmental degradation, which led to the creation of concepts such as the WRIT OF KALIKASAN and INTERGENERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Examples of reflexive introspection


  • 9-11 Attack - Most terrorist violence is symbolic, it aims to change things through affecting public opinion, frightening people and demonstrating their vulnerability. The system (airport system) was examined, then new security policies were created and implemented to lessen the risk.
• While risks have several disadvantages, according to Giddens, risks should be approached positively. Risk needs to be disciplined, but active risk-taking is a core element of a dynamic economy and an innovative society.
• Panopticon


  A type of institutional building and a system of control designed by Bentham to allow all prisoners of an institution to be observed by a single security guard, without the inmates being able to tell whether they are being watched
• Purpose of the panopticon


  • Providing safety (Giddens)
  • Developing a system to deal with hazards and insecurities induced and introduced by modernization itself (Beck)
• Modern day panopticons


  • Mobile phones with cameras
  • Installing CCTVs
  • Creation of Online Accounts
• Modern society addressed some of the modern risks by creating modern-day panopticons, but such have unintended consequences which resulted in the creation of more risks.