RISK SOCIETY

Beck's Grand Theory of Risk Society

Beck's Grand Theory of Risk Society

Introduction

Risk society (or sociology of risk) is the sociological synthesis of a historic moment in the modern period in which it loses its core, causing a series of debates, reformulations and new strategies of domination. It would be a post-industrial society in the sense that the basic matrices of modernity and the same correlation of forces have changed substantially. The first theorist who spoke of this change was Ulrich Beck, in his book Risk Society. This book, published in 1986, coined concepts that suggest contemporary social transformations as a whole. Based on the fact that our societies have become "factories at risk", it shows that these risks are an expression of what he calls "reflexive modernity". From industrial development, they are global (they can go to the destruction of life on earth), invisible, and do not break with the capitalist logic, since they create insatiable needs answers as the economy takes charge. Also, the destiny of man is there more under the sign of poverty, but in that of fear, and social conflicts associated with these modern, contemporary risks (Barkin, David, 2001, 86-108).

The great originality of this work is to link the emergence of these risks to the growing individualism and the great transformations of wage labor, particularly with the development of insecurity and even new technologies. The triumph of the welfare state, that the social and political rights now recognized, destroyed the solidarity of classes (Barkin, David, 2001, 86-108). It addresses emerging risks; including the collective responses proposed by the unions compete with legal or medical answers that always identified. While the company's business, risk leads us to develop our own survival in the market, "an image of the self-centered world," how to respond collectively to emerging risks? This is the perplexing question, but fundamental, that arises today in our societies.

This paper will focus on the difference in the material experience of the people living in the developed and the developing countries. Furthermore, this paper will also look at the exploitation of the developing countries by the developed countries and try to analyse the risk factors associated with it to our societies, in consideration with the theory of 'Risk Society' presented by Ulrich Beck.

Discussion

Material differences between developed and underdeveloped

The development gaps between countries are due to multiple causes, not just the financial ones. These cases have both an internal and external sources. Not all states have the same degree of social organization, or similar production structures, or similar funds or comparable lifestyles. Currently, two realities contrast sharply: the developed countries and underdeveloped countries or developing countries. 80% of the population lives in this second group (Arnoldi, 2009, 115-124).

Developed world

Developed countries have a high income per capita, i.e., a higher average per capita income above $ 10,000 a year, a powerful and technologically advanced industry, a high standard of living, reflected in the development of infrastructure and the quantity and quality of health, education, culture, ...