Risikogesellschaften
Risikogesellschaften, a German term popularized by sociologist Ulrich Beck, translates to "risk societies." This concept describes a stage of societal development where the primary social, political, and economic issues are no longer about the distribution of wealth and resources, but about the distribution of risks. In this paradigm, manufactured risks – those created by human activity, such as environmental pollution, nuclear accidents, or technological failures – become more prominent and impactful than natural hazards.
Beck argued that modern societies, driven by industrialization and technological advancement, have generated new forms of