This study aims to demonstrate how risk in modern society is constructed within the society, by observing varying reactions to attracting nuclear power plants of two different regions. Contemporary society does not focus on the issue of 'risk' only due to various disasters causing economic loss, pol...
This study aims to demonstrate how risk in modern society is constructed within the society, by observing varying reactions to attracting nuclear power plants of two different regions. Contemporary society does not focus on the issue of 'risk' only due to various disasters causing economic loss, political mistrust and resistance, collapse of local community and physical and psychological distress. Modern society is regarded as 'risk society', because we no longer perceive disaster as fate or misfortune but put responsibility of it on society, considering such negative results caused by our decision. However, we fiercely refuse or avoid some decisions, and tend to accept others uncritically. On this wise, each person perceives risk in different degrees. The point here is not the possibility of objectively confirming the danger, but the question of 'what is regarded as dangerous'. Niklas Luhmann argued that the concept of risk is not given objectively from the system's outer or determined by individual's perception, but defined through communication within autopoietic social systems. Moreover, Luhmann compared risk with danger and explained it by relating risk to the problem of decision. The existing division of ‘danger and Safety’ focuses on potential loss and its removal. However, the division of ‘risk and danger’ turns away from the former topic and mainly discusses decision-making. The potential loss is regarded as a consequence of decision, we speak that‘risk’. And potential loss is considered to have been caused externally, we speak that‘danger’. Samcheok and Yeongdeok are two regions in economic decline after 1980s. Before Fukushima nuclear accident, both regions sought to attract nuclear power plants for economic benefits. After the accident however, attracting nuclear power plants became a very different problem. In case of Yeongdeok, people continued to emphasize the economic benefits of the nuclear power plants thereby trying to attract the nuclear plants, and risk-communication within the region was considered in division of ‘danger and safety’ within the political system. As a result, policies to enhance the safety of nuclear plants were implemented, and the discussion was continued under the plan of installing nuclear plants in the region. In contrast. risk-communication in Samcheok tended to follow the division of ‘risk and danger’, and this brought the question of 'who should determine nuclear plants' as an essential issue of communication. Thus, the point of dispute in Samcheok was to provide an institutional strategy that can reflect opinions of residents. Various elections brought this problem to surface consistently. Consequently, in case of Samcheok, opinions of residents are reflected again to determine whether to attract nuclear plants. They are coming into conflicts with the central government. Based on case in two regions, we can figure out that the concept of risk is constructed in the communication as Luhmann insisted, and that the reaction differs depending on the constructed meaning. Case like attracting nuclear plants, in particular, are accepted in different degrees according to political communication, not scientific or economic ones.
This study aims to demonstrate how risk in modern society is constructed within the society, by observing varying reactions to attracting nuclear power plants of two different regions. Contemporary society does not focus on the issue of 'risk' only due to various disasters causing economic loss, political mistrust and resistance, collapse of local community and physical and psychological distress. Modern society is regarded as 'risk society', because we no longer perceive disaster as fate or misfortune but put responsibility of it on society, considering such negative results caused by our decision. However, we fiercely refuse or avoid some decisions, and tend to accept others uncritically. On this wise, each person perceives risk in different degrees. The point here is not the possibility of objectively confirming the danger, but the question of 'what is regarded as dangerous'. Niklas Luhmann argued that the concept of risk is not given objectively from the system's outer or determined by individual's perception, but defined through communication within autopoietic social systems. Moreover, Luhmann compared risk with danger and explained it by relating risk to the problem of decision. The existing division of ‘danger and Safety’ focuses on potential loss and its removal. However, the division of ‘risk and danger’ turns away from the former topic and mainly discusses decision-making. The potential loss is regarded as a consequence of decision, we speak that‘risk’. And potential loss is considered to have been caused externally, we speak that‘danger’. Samcheok and Yeongdeok are two regions in economic decline after 1980s. Before Fukushima nuclear accident, both regions sought to attract nuclear power plants for economic benefits. After the accident however, attracting nuclear power plants became a very different problem. In case of Yeongdeok, people continued to emphasize the economic benefits of the nuclear power plants thereby trying to attract the nuclear plants, and risk-communication within the region was considered in division of ‘danger and safety’ within the political system. As a result, policies to enhance the safety of nuclear plants were implemented, and the discussion was continued under the plan of installing nuclear plants in the region. In contrast. risk-communication in Samcheok tended to follow the division of ‘risk and danger’, and this brought the question of 'who should determine nuclear plants' as an essential issue of communication. Thus, the point of dispute in Samcheok was to provide an institutional strategy that can reflect opinions of residents. Various elections brought this problem to surface consistently. Consequently, in case of Samcheok, opinions of residents are reflected again to determine whether to attract nuclear plants. They are coming into conflicts with the central government. Based on case in two regions, we can figure out that the concept of risk is constructed in the communication as Luhmann insisted, and that the reaction differs depending on the constructed meaning. Case like attracting nuclear plants, in particular, are accepted in different degrees according to political communication, not scientific or economic ones.
주제어
#위험과 위해 위험과 안전 니클라스 루만 원전 위험소통
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.