Risk society: A possible model for the development of modern society

The article analyzes how theoretically, methodologically and empirically it is possible to open the theory of society and politics to a historically new, intertwined modernity that cancels its own foundations. The author shows how in the discourse of Ulrich Beck’s philosophy, the concept of a risk society does not stand in isolation. Rather, it is just a component (although extremely important, perhaps even central) of an even more comprehensive theory, namely the so-called theory of “reflexive modernization”. That is why the risk society should be understood, taking into account the comprehensive completeness of Beck's philosophy: it is the intersection of two different eras of modernity. The goal of people should be to overcome the risk society with the help of reflexive modernization and, thus, finally enter the normative target state of the second modern. It is the theory, the theory of society and politics, that can reveal the fundamental fragility and variability of social dynamics that come from the globalization of capital and risks at the beginning of the 21st century. It should be remembered that risks are the result of the process of social construction. However, with the development of mass media and the publicly accessible, worldwide Internet, it is not the abstract risks themselves that are perceived as threatening, but their concrete thematization in the media. This leads to the fact that reality is perceived cognitively in accordance with the schematism of safety and danger. However, paradoxically, the inflation of “perceived risks” also leads to greater indifference. Criticism of Beck's philosophy, based on the argument of the limitation of Beck’s works in time and space, is refuted by his later works, such as “World at Risk”. Beck expanded some aspects of the concept, which he only hinted at in 1986, and also developed the theory from the point of view of advanced globalization. He did not blame or defend capitalism, but rather pointed out measures to reduce and eliminate risks. Risk always has two sides: the negative side of danger and the positive side of opportunity. That is why in today’s society, risk management provides potential scenarios for the future and tools for better risk control. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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