Abstract

RUBIO CARRIQUIRIBORDE, Ignacio. Objectivism, constructivism and the sociologies of risk. Rev. mex. cienc. polít. soc [online]. 2012, vol.57, n.214, pp.9-24. ISSN 0185-1918.

Departing from a broad definition of risk based on the decisions, the article reviews the objectivist and constructivist positions using two distinctions: vulnerability, threat and risk; and descriptive and normative levels. It also provides a brief discussion of the limitations of economic and technical calculations, and of the symbolic and moral horizon inscribed in risk assessments. In such a complex frame, it is suggested that conflict related to environmental risks can not be resolved by contrasting assessments, so to understand the social processing of claims in the context of pluralistic societies is required to introduce the idea justice as a relevant aspect of the problem. Rather than computational problems, the claims referred to risk are based on different assessments of the link between society and nature and of justice, introducing justice is thus necessary to understand the nature of the problems, and to provide ideas on how to regulate claims and to guide decisions.

Keywords : risk; objectivism/constructivism.

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