Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen
Welfare Research Group
The Sociology of Risk - Theoretical Perspectives Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark January 27th – 28th 2011 Conference theme: Risk is a key concept in contemporary sociology. The growing body of sociological risk research is a challenge to the more traditional techno-scientific and psychometric approaches to risk, grounded in conventional models of rationality. Sociologists stress the importance of socio-cultural and historic settings for risk assessment, risk behaviour and risk management. In this perspective, people are seen as responding to risks, not as atomized individuals but as members of social groups, relating their risk conceptions and behaviour to broader cultural frameworks. The aim of the conference is to gather different theoretical approaches within the sociology of risk and to discuss and examine their analytical use in empirical research. The following themes will be highlighted: the importance of socio-cultural frameworks in risk assessment and behaviour; risk control as practice of the self; risk decisions and intersubjectivity; risk and trust; risk management in the welfare state; risk and the assignment of responsibility and blame; voluntary and involuntary exposures to risk; edgework, identity and control. Conference form: A mix of plenary lectures and thematically organised sessions with paper presentations. The conference will start Thursday, January 27 at 10 AM and end Friday, January 28, at 1 PM. Keynote speakers: Jens O. Zinn, University of Melbourne: “Risk and Uncertainty – Theoretical Approaches” Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent: “Risk and Context in Social Science” Liz Austen, Sheffield Hallam University: “The Social Construction of Risk” Deadlines: Registration and abstracts: October 15, 2010. (Abstract approval: November 1, 2011) Papers: January 5, 2011. The conference is free of charge. To register for the conference, please fill in and return the attached form. Organizers: Margaretha Järvinen, Lars Fynbo, Morten Frederiksen, Myra Lewinter, Jørgen Elm Larsen & Tea Torbenfeldt Bengtsson. Contact:
Tine Pedersen Department of Sociology University of Copenhagen Øster Farimagsgade 5, Bld. 16 DK-1014 Copenhagen K Denmark
Mail: risk@soc.ku.dk Phone: +45 35324117 Web: http://www.soc.ku.dk/risk
Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen
Welfare Research Group The Sociology of Risk - Theoretical Perspectives Registration form To be sent by email or posted letter to: Tine Pedersen Department of Sociology University of Copenhagen Ă˜ster Farimagsgade 5, Bld. 16 DK-1014 Copenhagen K Denmark
risk@soc.ku.dk
Name: Title: Place of work: Address: E-mail: Phone: If you wish to present a paper, please include an abstract here (max 250 words):
Max length of papers: 8.000 words (app. 20 pages). Deadline for registration and abstracts: October 15th 2010. Deadline for papers: January 5th 2011.