Risk

Abstract

The term, Äúgovernance, Äù has been used in political science to describe the multitude of actors and processes that lead to collective binding decisions. The term “risk governance” involves the translation of the substance and core principles of governance to the context of risk-related decision-making. Risk governance pertains to the various ways in which many actors, individuals and institutions, public and private, deal with risks and provides a conceptual as well as normative basis for how to deal responsibly with uncertain, complex and/or ambiguous risks in particular. The chapter synthesizes the body of scholarly ideas and proposals on the governance of systemic risks in a set of management regimes: the combination of risk-based, precautionary and discourse-based management regimes. This set of regimes should be read as a synthesis of what needs to be seriously considered in organizing structures and processes to govern risks.