Identifying Data 2019/20
Subject (*) Risk, culture and environment Code 615G01417
Study programme
Grao en Socioloxia
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 1st four-month period
 Fourth Optional 4.5
Language
Spanish
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Socioloxía e Ciencias da Comunicación
Coordinador
Santiago Gómez, Elvira
 E-mail
elvira.santiago@udc.es
Lecturers
Santiago Gómez, Elvira
 E-mail
elvira.santiago@udc.es
Web
General description A asignatura de Risco, Cultura e Medio Ambiente tenta cubrir un baleiro moi importante no plano de estudos do Grao en Socioloxía, é dicir, a preocupación da teoría sociolóxica máis recente polos fenómenos que están a estructurar as sociedades avanzadas. A partires dun afondamento na teoría sociolóxica sobre o risco e sobre a sociedade do risco, este curso ten como obxectivo presentar aos alumnos unha das áreas máis importantes da actual investigación sociolóxica. Baixo moi diferentes conceptualizacions, o que a nova teorización sociolóxica ven a cuestionar é o fundamento mesmo do seu propio traballo, isto es, a división eminentemente moderna entre os fenómenos da sociedade contra os fenómenos da natureza o, noutros termos, a cultura contra o medio ambiente.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A8 Análisis de las transformaciones y evolución de las sociedades contemporáneas.
A21 Capacidades para identificar y medir factores de vulnerabilidad social y procesos conflictivos.
A23 Capacidades en evaluar los costes y beneficios ecológicos y sociales (presentes y futuros).
A24 Conocimientos y habilidades en transmitir los conceptos, problemáticas y perspectivas sociológicas.
A35 Actitud crítica frente a las doctrinas y las prácticas sociales.
A36 Actitud de compromiso frente a los problemas sociales y culturales.
B3 Capacidad de análisis y síntesis.
B6 Comunicación oral y escrita en la lengua nativa.
B9 Reconocimiento a la diversidad y a la multiculturalidad.
B13 Razonamiento crítico.
B16 Sensibilidad hacia temas medio ambientales.
B21 Aprendizaje autónomo.
B24 Habilidades para contextualizar e identificar los actores clave en cada situación.
B26 Capacidades en reconocer el carácter global y local de los fenómenos sociales.
B27 Capacidades en reconocer la complejidad de los fenómenos sociales.
C1 Expresarse correctamente, tanto de forma oral como escrita, en las lenguas oficiales de la comunidad autónoma.
C4 Desarrollarse para el ejercicio de una ciudadanía abierta, culta, crítica, comprometida, democrática y solidaria, capaz de analizar la realidad, diagnosticar problemas, formular e implantar soluciones basadas en el conocimiento y orientadas al bien común.
C8 Valorar la importancia que tiene la investigación, la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico en el avance socioeconómico y cultural de la sociedad.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to distinguish the social theories of environmental and technological risks in the global society. A8
A24
 B6
B21
B27
 C1
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to determine the specific traits of the risk society against the previous modern societies. A8
A24
 B6
B21
B26
B27
 C1
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to propose relevant risk assessment criteria, crisis management and mediation in social conflicts. A21
 B3
B6
B13
B24
B26
B27
 C1
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to assess the extent of environmental and technological challenges of global society. A8
A23
A35
 B3
B13
B16
B24
B27
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to identify areas of technological and environmental risk and social vulnerability. A21
A23
A35
 B3
B9
B16
B24
B27
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to defend attitudes of commitment to environmental and technological risks. A35
A36
 B16
B27
 C4
C8

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
LESSON 1: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIZING ABOUT RISK Elements of the notion of risk. The notion of risk in the risk-cost-benefit analysis. Technical approach to risk. Psychological approach to risk. Sociological approach to risk. Conceptions of risk. Social nature of risk. Socio-cultural theories of risk. Risk, uncertainty and scientific knowledge. The precautionary principle. Risk communication and public opinion. Risk governance.
LESSON 2: RISK SOCIETY AND REFLEXIVE MODERNIZATION Risk as a new modernity. What is reflexive modernization? Risk society. Risk and reflexivity. Risks and uncertainties. Processes of "individualization". The emergence of sub-politics. Towards a new modernity: a greater differentiation, the model of the "round table" and the reform of rationality.
LESSON 3: ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS The construction of the division between nature and society. The instability of the concept of nature. The social construction of nature. The construction site of environmental issues. Science and social construction of environmental risk. The governance of environmental problems. The political transformation of modern environmentalism. The politics of nature. Environmentalism and globalization.
LESSON 4: TECHNOLOGICAL RISKS Sociological perspective on technology. Theory of socio-technical change. A network analysis of technical change. The social construction of facts and artifacts. The resistance to new technology. The thesis of "normal accident". Winner: technology as legislation or the political content of technological systems.
LESSON 5. RISK ASSESSMENT Risk and rationality. The role of the expert in risk assessment. Objectivity and values in risk assessment. Five dilemmas in the risk assessment. Strategic issues in risk assessment. The strategy of perceived risk and the opinion of the experts. The probabilistic strategy and democracy. The utilitarian strategy and uncertainty. The strategy of production. The isolationist strategy. New directions in risk assessment.

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Case study A8 A21 A23 A35 A36 B3 B6 B9 B13 B16 B24 B26 B27 C1 C4 C8 0 25 25
Mind mapping A8 A21 A24 B3 B6 B13 B21 B24 B26 B27 C1 2 8 10
Objective test A8 A24 B6 B21 B27 C1 2 25 27
Critical bibliographical A8 A24 B6 B21 B26 B27 C1 0 30 30
Guest lecture / keynote speech A8 A21 15 0 15
 
Personalized attention 5.5 0 5.5
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Case study It is to apply the concepts and theories learned in the course to the detailed study of a case likely to be approached from the perspective of risk. The case study will be specifically agreed between students and teacher. The study will be developed, if possible, in groups of no more than three students.
Mind mapping Students will have to analyze one of the basic texts of the course and develop the conceptual map of the text. The teacher assigned to each student the analyzing text.
Objective test The knowledge of the relevant aspects of the theoretical content of the course shall be demonstrated by an examination.
Critical bibliographical Students must submit a recession about any of the basic texts or specific literature in the context of the debate in which it is inserted.
Guest lecture / keynote speech The teacher will give lessons at the beginning of the course on the basic contents of the subject.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Critical bibliographical
Case study
Description
Students must attend at least two tutorials to consult the teacher the case study, the recession and the development of the conceptual map.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Critical bibliographical A8 A24 B6 B21 B26 B27 C1 Contextualization of a text in the debates and concerns specific to the course content. It will be held individually. 20
Objective test A8 A24 B6 B21 B27 C1 Conducting a review of the theoretical content of the course. It will be held individually. 35
Mind mapping A8 A21 A24 B3 B6 B13 B21 B24 B26 B27 C1 Analysis of the conceptual map of a relevant text in the literature of the subject. It will be held individually. 15
Case study A8 A21 A23 A35 A36 B3 B6 B9 B13 B16 B24 B26 B27 C1 C4 C8 Detailed description of a specific case and analysis of that case in the light of relevant theories. The work will take place, if possible, in groups. 30
 
Assessment comments

The teaching is organized in seminar format. Consequently, attendance and active participation in classes is absolutely essential for the evaluation. The evaluation depends directly on the frequency of attendance at the sessions and the quality of their participation and their contribution to their development. No final exam will be demanded for students with regular attendance in classes, but could be demanded a supervised project. Students who do not attend classes will have to do each evaluation methodologies that have been identified (case studies, concept mapping, bibliographic recession and objective test).

The teacher reserves the right to make changes along the course, provided they are not in contradiction with any of the information contained herein.

Sources of information
Basic López Cerezo, J. A. & Luján, J. L. (2000). Ciencia y política del riesgo. Madrid. Alianza editorial
Giddens, Anthony (1999). Consecuencias de la modernidad. Madrid. Alianza editorial
Lash, Scott (1998). Economías de signo y espacio. Sobre el capitalismo de la posorganización. Buenos Aires. Amorrortu
Winner, Langdom (1987). La ballena y el reactor. Una búsqueda de los límites en la era de la alta tecnología. Barcelona. Gedida
Beck, Ulrich (2006). La sociedad del riesgo global. Madrid. Siglo XXI
Beck, Ulrich (2006). La sociedad del riesgo. Hacia una nueva modernidad. Barcelona. Paidós
Giddens, A., Beck, U. & Lash, S. (1997). Modernización reflexiva. Política, tradición y estética en el orden social moderno. Madrid. Alianza editorial
Latour, Bruno (2007). Nunca fuimos modernos. Ensayo de antropología simétrica. Buenos Aires. Siglo XXI
Latour, Bruno (2012). Políticas de la naturaleza. Por una democracia de las ciencias. Barcelona. RBA Libros
Lash, Scott (2007). Sociología del postmodernismo. Buenos Aires. Amorrortu
Winner, Langdom (1979). Tecnología autónoma. Barcelona. Gustavo Gili


Complementary Luján, J. L. & Echeverría, J. (2004). Gobernar los riesgos. Ciencia y valores en la sociedad del riesgo. Madrid. OEI
Douglas, Mary (1996). La aceptabilidad del riesgo según las ciencias sociales. Barcelona. Paidós
Ramos, Ramón (1999). Prometeo y las flores del mal. El problema del riesgo en la sociología contemporánea. Madrid. CIS
Beck, Ulrich (2007). Un nuevo mundo feliz. La precariedad del trabajo en la era de la globalización. Barcelona. Paidós


Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
Social and Cultural Anthropology/615G01102
Sociological Theory 1/615G01110
Sociological Theory 2/615G01203
Social Structure and Social Change/615G01208

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously
Globalization, Environment and Population/615G01409

Subjects that continue the syllabus

Other comments
A entrega dos traballos documentais que se realicen nesta materia: Solicitarase en formato virtual e/ou soporte informático Realizarase a través de Moodle, en formato dixital sen necesidade de imprimilos De se realizar en papel: - Non se empregarán plásticos. - Realizaranse impresións a dobre cara. - Empregarase papel reciclado. - Evitarase a impresión de borradores.


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.