Risk, responsibility and recreancy

Abstract

In recent years, both citizens and scholars have expressed concern about an emerging “risk society.” Many discussions focus on dramatic and widespread forms of risk, but statistical risks of death have dropped significantly in the past century. Both the increase in citizen concerns and the drop in statistical risks may derive from one process — a dramatic increase in specialization. The resultant interdependence has brought many advances, but also an increased potential for recreancy — the failure of institutional actors to carry out their responsibilities with the degree of vigor that is necessary to merit the societal trust they enjoy.

Citation

Freudenburg, W.R. (2001), "Risk, responsibility and recreancy", Böm, G., Nerb, J., McDaniels, T. and Spada, H. (Ed.) Environmental Risks: Perception, Evaluation and Management (Research in Social Problems and Public Policy, Vol. 9), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 87-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-1152(01)80025-9