theories of late modernism

Question 1

theories

Answer 1

Reflexivity
Risk society

Question 2

reflexivity

Answer 2

According to Giddens, we are now at the state of late modernity. Tradition and customs have become less important and no longer serve as a guide to how we should act, we have become more individualistic. Because tradition no longer tells us how to act we are forced to be reflexive. That is, we have to constantly monitor and reflect on and modify our actions in the light of information about the possible risks and opportunities they might involve - we are constantly reevaluating our ideas and theories, nothing is fixed or permanent.

Question 3

risk society

Answer 3

Beck believes that we are now in a risk society that faces new kinds of dangers. Tradition no longer governers how we act, we became to think for ourselves and constantly take account of the risks attached to the different courses of action open to us. As a result, risk consciousness becomes part of our culture - we become aware of perceived risks and seek to avoid or minimise them. - faces new kinds of dangers:
• In the past, society faced dangers as a result of its inability to control nature, such as drought, famine and disease.
• Today, the dangers we face are manufactured risks resulting from human activities, such as global warming.
Also like Giddens, Beck sees late modernity as a period of growing individualisation, in which we become increasingly reflexive. Tradition no longer governs how we act. As a result, we have to think for ourselves and reflect on the possible consequences of our choice of action.

Question 4

Evals

Answer 4

1. The concept of reflexivity suggests that we reflect on our actions and then are free to re-shape our lives accordingly to reduce our exposure to risks. However, not everyone has this option. For example, the poor are generally exposed to more environmental risks because they are more likely to live in heavily polluted areas, but may be unable to afford to move to a healthier one.
2. Criticising Beck, Mike Rustin (1994) argues that it is capitalism, with its pursuit of profit at all costs, that is the source of risk, not technology as such.
3. Paul Hirst (1993) rejects Beck’s view that movements such as environmentalism will bring about significant change, because they are too fragmented to challenge capitalism.