Complexity and risk

Abstract

As said in the introduction, an important motivation for the research presented in this book is Ulrich Beck's development of the theory of the (World) Risk Society and the research that this theory has inspired or at least influenced heavily. Accordingly, this theory, and its more mature and general version, the theory of Reflexive Modernization, will be presented in the first section of this chapter. In parallel with the development of these theories, the 'Complexity Science' field has emerged. As this book focuses on risks related to complexity, an overview of this field will also be given. In the following sections we will inquire deeper into the relations between these theories, arguing that they have a common core. © Ole Hanseth and Claudio Ciborra, 2007. All rights reserved.