Sociology of Risk

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The classes are theoretical-practical and composed of an expositive part followed by a participative discussion with students. The evaluation of the curricular unit is based exclusively on essays elaborated by students on controversies in the area of risks, on risk economics and risk perceptions in contexts defined by the students.

Learning Outcomes

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

-From Risk to Risk Society.
-From Risk to Precaution.
-Concepts and Classifications in Risk Analysis.
-Sociology of Disasters and Risk Governance
-Risk Regulation Regimes.
-Social Vulnerability and Social Resilence.
-Public Participation and Civic Epistemologies.

Head Lecturer(s)

José Manuel Oliveira Mendes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Research work: 100.0%

Bibliography

Manual de referência/Handbook:
MENDES, José Manuel (2015), Sociologia do risco. Uma breve introdução e algumas lições. Coimbra: Imprensa da Universidade de
Coimbra.
Outra bibliografia/Other references:
BECK, Ulrich — Risk society : towards a new modernity. London : Sage Publications, 1992.
BECK, Ulrich - World at risk. Cambridge: Polity, 2009.
COLLIER, Stephen; LAKOFF, Andrew - The government of emergencies. Vital systems, expertise, and the politics of security. Princeton
(NJ): Princeton University Press, 2021.
LIZARRALDE, Gonzalo - Unnatural disasters. Why most responses to risk and climate change fail but some succeed. New York (NY):
Columbia University Press, 2021.
LUHMAN, Niklas - Risk : a sociological theory. Berlin : Walter de Gruyter, 1993.
RENN, Ortwin - Risk governance : coping with uncertainty in a complex world. London : Earthscan, 2008.
TIERNEY, Kathleen - Disasters. A sociological approach. London: Polity, 2019.