Cultural Approach

Question 1

What are the three main points in the cultural approach to risk?

Answer 1

• There is a real world out there but the way we as humans perceive the world is affected by culture.
• Institutional structure of society.
• Risk Selection.

Question 2

What is the cultural approach’s critique of Economic/rationalist approach to risk?

Answer 2

That politics is seen as something external (same as country risk), thus hidden in the cost/benefit analysis to determine level of acceptability. BUT the choice of what to measure etc is a political choice in itself. Perhaps a disagreement over the definition of politics? Risk is out there but we choose what to focus on.

Question 3

What happens when we raise something as beyond normal i.e. a risk?

Answer 3

There is moral judgment, and thereby politics, implied every time we name something a risk, prioritize and selecting. To say something is a risk is to declare a need for political action, a need for moral judgment, which places responsibility.

Question 4

What 2 dimensions does the relationship between normality and risk entail?

Answer 4

Classifications of risks and levels of acceptance. What is normal and acceptable is constantly re-negotiated and changing e.g. through technology.

Question 5

What accompanies risk selection?

Answer 5

Responsibility.

Question 6

How does culture affect risk selection/ normality?

Answer 6

”the publically shared collection of principles and values used at any one time to justify behavior” (Douglas 1986: 67)
•Thus, the meanings of normality and acceptability of risks is culturally biased
•The selection of risk reinforce the moral and political order that holds society together

Question 7

In Douglas’ heuristic framework, the grid/group structure, what are the 4 ‘cultures’?

Answer 7

1. Hierarchical Individualism (e.g. ?)
2. Hierarchical Communitarism (e.g. formal organisations - army/ministry/UN).
3. Egalitarian Individualism (e.g. financial traders).
4. Egalitarian Communitarism - sectarianism (e.g. internet forums/ WikiLeaks/ social groups).

Question 8

What are the four ‘axis points’ in Douglas’ grid/group structure?

Answer 8

1. Individualist
2. Communitarian/ Collectivised social commitment
3. Hierarchist
4. Egalitarian

Question 9

How can the cultural approach contribute to the conventional understanding of risk analysis?

Answer 9

• Recognises cultural differences
• Add negotiations
• Explains change
• Add understanding of rationalisation

Question 10

When was risk communication introduced to Western society?

Answer 10

1970’s after discovery of discrepancy between scientific evidence and public perception.

Question 11

Why was risk communication introduced?

Answer 11

To avoid misunderstandings, to educate or engage the public, and to close the gap between scientist and lay people. Recognition that the receiver is active and not passive who co-defines the situation -Science is not ‘just’ science (send-receiver). This is seen more today with the focus on resilience, bringing in public to part-take in National Security - active citizenship (US mostly).

Question 12

What could be a problem with this culture of security and active citizenship?

Answer 12

That the public is increasingly considered ‘partners’ in the construction of the national security
•Practices of responsibilization and mobilization opens up a new space: question about who has the authority to define security knowledge?

Question 13

Why is risk perception important in the cultural approach?

Answer 13

With cultural risk perception, the institutional structure itself is the generator of how a risk is internally perceived; risk management responds internally rather than externally; and risk communication conveys these issues (risks) in order to create a shared meaning and trust regarding any issue that may threaten the organization.

Question 14

What is ‘culture of fear’ and how is it used politically?

Answer 14

Low prob./high impact dangers are used primarily by religious sects/communes, as well as political lobbies, new political movements, and public interest groups to hold their membership together i.e. “cosmic plots” are used to resolve threats to organizational coherence. Politics of fear is thus, to promote fear of these dangers to increase the desire to ‘stick together’. Thus, cultural values/ fears are sometimes consciously or unconsciously manipulated for political purposes.