Zinn Jens O. (editor). Social theories of risk and uncertainty: an introduction

Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. — 264 p.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.Introduction: The Contribution of Sociology to the Discourse on Risk and Uncertainty.
Jens O. Zinn.
Why Theorize Risk and Uncertainty?
The Conceptualization of Risk.
The Historical Development of the Notion of Risk.
The Sociological Contribution to Interdisciplinary Risk.
Research.
Sociological Streams of Theorizing Risk and Uncertainty.
Risk Society and Reflexive Modernization.
Jens O. Zinn.
From Risk Society and Individualization to Reflexive Modernization.
The Power of New Risks: the Enforced Risk Society.
The Self-Transformation of the Social: Institutional Individualism.
The Political within Risk Society and Reflexive Modernization.
Risks and Uncertainties in Reflexive Modernity.
Critique.
Perspectives.
Further Reading.
Governmentality and Risk.
Pat O’Malley.
Risk in the Development of Governmentality.
From Risk to the Risk Society?
Risk and Liberal Governmentality.
Risk and Uncertainty.
Conclusions.
Further Reading.
Systems Theory and Risk.
Klaus P. Japp and Isabel Kusche.
Modernity, Decision Making, and Risk.
The Time Dimension: Modernity.
The Material Dimension: Risk and Danger.
The Social Dimension: Confl icts.
Beyond Classical Topics of Risk Research.Further Reading.
Edgework, Risk, and Uncertainty.
Stephen Lyng.
Voluntary Risk Taking in Late Modernity.
Development of the Edgework Concept.
Theorizing Edgework.
The Structural Context of Voluntary Risk Taking.
Conclusions.
Further Reading.
Culture and Risk.
John Tulloch.
Mary Douglas and Cultural Boundaries.
Ulrich Beck and Risk Society.
Risk and Governmentality.
Critical Realism and Left Criminology.
The Writer as Risk Victim and Academic.Further Reading.
A Comparison of Sociological Theorizing on Risk and Uncertainty.
Jens O. Zinn.
Theoretical Contexts of Risk Theorizing.
Epistemology of Risk.
The Theoretical Positioning of Risk.
Promises, Pitfalls, and Perspectives of Risk Theorizing.