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Risk and security: diagnosis of the present in the context of (post-)modern insecurities

Risiko und Sicherheit: soziologische Zeitdiagnostik im Zeichen (post-)moderner Unsicherheiten
[journal article]

Kaufmann, Stefan
Wichum, Ricky

Abstract

This essay claims that the upsurge of security nowadays is not caused by specific events such as 9/11, Fukushima, or similar catastrophes. Our assumption is, in contrast, that it is the constitution of functionally differentiated societies itself which allows the security and risk discourse to be ap... view more

This essay claims that the upsurge of security nowadays is not caused by specific events such as 9/11, Fukushima, or similar catastrophes. Our assumption is, in contrast, that it is the constitution of functionally differentiated societies itself which allows the security and risk discourse to be applied to all types of issues and phenomena, even though security and risk have only went viral as universal societal problems in the late 20th century. We will flesh out this approach using three bodies of work essential to the German debate. With regard to social policy, Franz-Xaver Kaufmann argues that the viral nature of the security issue arises from the fact that the security concept in modern society is split into system security and self-confidence. Niklas Luhmann’s concept of risk – stemming from systems theory – shows that the prominence of the topic is the result of the intrinsically modern compulsion of having to forejudge an uncertain future. In contrast, Ulrich Beck’s work on (global) risk societies is centred on the catastrophic potential inherent in (post-)modern risks as a cause for the rise of security debates. The sociological analysis employed here not only explains the rise of risk and security topics; it also provides society with a characterization of itself, which in turn can re-affect society and ultimately motivate a different historiographical self-description.... view less

Keywords
knowledge; sense of security; Luhmann, N.; security; risk; risk society; sociological theory; postmodernism; threat; Beck, U.; modernity

Classification
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories

Free Keywords
governance through security

Document language
English

Publication Year
2016

Page/Pages
p. 48-69

Journal
Historical Social Research, 41 (2016) 1

Issue topic
Risk as an analytical category: selected studies in the social history of the twentieth century

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.41.2016.1.48-69

ISSN
0172-6404

Status
Published Version; peer reviewed

Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0


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© 2007 - 2025 Social Science Open Access Repository (SSOAR).
Based on DSpace, Copyright (c) 2002-2022, DuraSpace. All rights reserved.