Risk Uncertainty and Rational Action

<p>Risk as we now know it is a wholly new phenomenon the by-product of our ever more complex and powerful technologies. In business policy making and in everyday life it demands a new way of looking at technological and environmental uncertainty.</p> <p>In this definitive volume four of the world's leading risk researchers present a fundamental critique of the prevailing approaches to understanding and managing risk - the 'rational actor paradigm'. They show how risk studies must incorporate the competing interests values and rationalities of those involved and find a balance of trust and acceptable risk. Their work points to a comprehensive and significant new theory of risk and uncertainty and of the decision making process they require. The implications for social political and environmental theory and practice are enormous.</p> <p> Winner of the 2000-2002 Outstanding Publication Award of the Section on Environment and Technology of the American Sociological Association</p>