Risk Society (Ulrich Beck)

Ulrich Beck’s concept of the Risk Society explains how modern societies are increasingly preoccupied with managing and preventing complex, often invisible risks—such as environmental hazards, technological failures, and health threats—that result from progress. Unlike traditional dangers, these risks are global, long-term, and hard to predict, leading to a shift in how society perceives and responds to threats. Beck argues that these risks challenge established social structures and require new ways of thinking about safety, responsibility, and governance, emphasizing that modern life is characterized by an ongoing process of risk assessment and mitigation.