Uncertainty: On living in the risk society

The recent terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris affected many people. Fear and uncertainty weigh on society, but the causes lie deeper than the terrorist threat. The ongoing crisis makes many people uncertain about their jobs, their income or their future. Global warming, growing superdiversity and changing relationships also make the future less stable. The growing uncertainty seems paradoxical: don't we live in one of the richest parts of the world, in the midst of unprecedented technological progress? How can we understand the gnawing uncertainty despite unprecedented prosperity? How do we deal with ever faster changes and growing risks?
Uncertainty. On living in the risk society offers a lens to better understand our unstable world. Building on the German sociologist Ulrich Beck, Dirk Geldof analyses society as a risk society. In his book, he links ecological and climate risks with globalisation and socio-economic threats, such as poverty and unemployment. He outlines individualisation as a driver of increasing freedom, uncertainty and time pressure. Finally, he analyses the pitfalls and opportunities of the transition to a super-diverse society.
Its global yet accessible approach makes this book indispensable for anyone who wants to grasp the connections between the many social changes and is looking for a framework to no longer avoid the challenges in this risk society. This book is a thorough revision of an earlier edition (2011). It contains new themes and examples, and is based on current literature.