Sociology of Risk

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The classes are theoretical-practical and composed of an expositive part followed by a discussion ofpre-assigned texts with students. The evaluation of the curricular unit is based exclusively on the presentations of texts in classes by the students and in an essay about risk perceptions in contexts defined by the students.

Learning Outcomes

The main objective is to apply a critical analysis of risk theories, integrating into the discussion the recent debates on social vulnerability and the theory of disasters. Special attention will be given to the risk regulation regimes and their relationship with public policies related to civil protection and populations security, as well as the thematic of public participation and the construction of civic epistemologies.

Students must acquire a deep knowledge of the different risk theories, both in their epistemological and cognitive dimension as in their practical application. The discussion of the concepts of social vulnerability and the social construction of disasters, and its methodological and empirical components, must develop the ability to evaluate public policies in the areas of civil protection and population security. Students will also be acquainted with public participation methodologies in the field of natural and technological risks.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

- Sociological Risk Theories.

- Social Vulnerability and Planning.

- Sociology of Disasters.

- Risk Regulation Regimes.

- From Preparedness Paradigm to Population Security.

- Public Participation and Civic Epistemologies.

Head Lecturer(s)

José Manuel Oliveira Mendes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Presentations in classes: 25.0%
Synthesis work: 75.0%

Bibliography

Beck, Ulrich (1992), Risk Society. London: Sage.

Borraz, Olivier (2008), Les politiques du risque. Paris: Sciences Po Les Presses.

Joffe, Helene (1999), Risk and 'the Other'. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Luhmann, Niklas (1993), Risk: A Sociological Theory. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

Lupton, Deborah (1999), Risk. London: Routledge.

Peretti-Wattel, Patrick (2000), Sociologie du Risque. Paris: Armand Colin.

Rebelo, Fernando (2003), Riscos naturais e acgao antropica. Coimbra: IUC.

Renn, Ortwin (2008), Risk Governance: Coping with Uncertainty in a Complex World. London: Earthscan.

Ribeiro, Manuel Joao (1995), "Sociologia dos desastres", Sociologia - Problemas e Praticas, n° 18.

Rodriguez, Havidan; Quarantelli, Enrico; Dynes, Russell (2006), Handbook of Disaster Research. New York:

Springer.

Taylor-Gooby, Peter; Zinn, Jens (eds.) (2006), Risk in Social Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Wilkinson, lain (2010), Risk, Vulnerability and Everyday Life. London: Routledge