The Question(s) of Youth, of what to do with them, of how to school them, or police them, or regulate them, or house them, or employ them, or prevent them from becoming involved in any number of Risky (sexual, eating, drug (ab)using or peer cultural) practices are questions which have a substantial historical aspect. In the Liberal Democracies at the end of the millennium the Crisis of Youth (at-Risk) is a key marker in theoretical, political and popular debates about Youth. This thesis explores the 'conditions of possibility' which enable discourses of Youth at-Risk to function as true (Henriques et al 1984). I argue that the truth of Youth at-Risk rehearses, in part, the historical truths of Youth as Delinquent, Deviant and Disadvantaged. I will also argue that a historically novel aspect of the truth of Youth at-Risk is that, potentially, every behaviour, every practice, every group of Youth can be constructed in terms of Risk. This thesis is not about the practices, behaviours and dispositions of young people. Rather, my concern is with the ways in which institutionally structured processes of expert knowledge production construct the truths of Youth (at-Risk). The thesis is concerned with the processes by which these largely autonomous systems of expert knowledge production are constitutive of both the 'institutional reflexivity' which characterises contemporary settings, and the forms of identity which emerge in these settings (Giddens 1994 c). I am also concerned with the ways in which these systems of expertise mobilise categories of Risk in diverse attempts to regulate the behaviours and dispositions of certain populations of young people under the conditions of 'reflexive modernization' (Beck, Giddens & Lash 1994). The thesis argues for a productive convergence between theories of reflexive modernization and governmentality. This convergence enables Youth at-Risk to be examined at two (interconnected) levels. In the first instance Risk is understood as constituting a metanarrative in an Age of Manufactured Uncertainty. In the second instance the identification of Risk factors and populations at-Risk will be understood as techniques mobilised in diverse attempts to 'make up' rational, choice making, autonomous, responsible citizens within (Neo)Liberal projects of government (Rose 1996). Foucault's (1991) theory of governmentality foregrounds the practices and relations implicated in the processes whereby 'human beings are made into subjects' (Foucault 1983). Governmentality is a useful and strategic analytic for understanding the diverse attempts by various experts and centres of expertise to regulate young people's identity through the construction of populations of Youth at-Risk. Processes of reflexive modernization are marked by the emergence of a degree of collective awareness that our contemporary conditions of existence are characterised by the thoroughgoing penetration of the social and the natural by reflexive human knowledge. Such a situation leads, not to a position in 'which collectively we are the masters [sic] of our destiny'; but rather to a series of settings in which we are confronted with the possibility that, as a 'consequence of our own doings', the future becomes 'very threatening' (Beck, Giddens & Lash 1994). In problematising the truth of Youth at-Risk this thesis will also engage with various problematisations of Left (critical) intellectual and political practices in domains which take Youth as their object. This thesis is explicitly located in the space of 'critical' (Educational) scholarship in Anglo settings which is structured, historically, by the 'European Marxist social philosophy' of the Frankfurt School and Gramscian (British) Cultural Studies, and French and Italian Feminism and Post (Structuralism and Modernism) (Popkewitz and Brennan 1997). The thesis argues that in order to problematise the truth of Youth at-Risk it is necessary, also, to problematise the processes of truth production mobilised from the Left in an engagement with the material and discursive realities which enable Youth at-Risk to function as a truth. Examining the truth of Youth at-Risk in the frameworks enabled by a convergence of theories of reflexive modernization and governmentality is a contribution to the processes of rethinking the intellectual and political positions which the Left might mobilise at the end of the millennium, when, as Beck (1994 ) argues, 'uncertainty returns'. I will argue that Left intellectual and political practice has no choice but to be open to the uncertain nature of truth telling which characterises processes of reflexive modernization. The tensions generated within these processes are not resolvable. Nor should the 'return of uncertainty' be seen as immobilising in the context of political and intellectual practice. The thesis argues that theories of reflexive modernization and governmentality highlight the dangers of intellectual and political positions which invest heavily in 'modernity's war on ambivalence' (Bauman 1990 b). In settings where the practices and activities of expertise have so thoroughly penetrated the natural and the social, where these processes of colonisation have resulted in the 'return of uncertainty', then the practices and activities of expertise promise, paradoxically, to 'exterminate ambivalence' by telling the truths of Youth at-Risk (Bauman 1990 b). This thesis argues that in an Age of Manufactured Uncertainty the mobilisation of rationally grounded Risk discourses in attempts to regulate Youth emerges as a paradoxical, and dangerous, Quest for Certainty (Bauman 1990 a).

The goal of this study is to see how risk assessment is executed on the social media platform Facebook. The aim is to see how risk assessment in contrast of Ulrich Becks (2012) theory about risk society and reflexive modernization can help understand how users on Facebook minimize the possible risk of their actions on Facebook. The study is of a qualitative variety and is based on interviews with ten different Facebook users and processed by being thematised by criminalty, risks of health, politic risks, economical risks and risks about integrity. It is also summarized by different strategies to minimize risks that the participants discussed in the interviews. The most important results in this study was connected to risks about source criticism and actions that could have an impact on work-related questions. It was possible to see in the study that if a user had knowledge about potential risks they were mostly more likely to protect themselves against it. Also it concludes that in some cases experience that users learns from does not have to be related to their own experiences.

During a long period of time, mankind as we know it, has progressed in remarkable ways. We leap from one era to another, whilst becoming smarter and more capable. Although one could argue for the superiority of man, we have now reached a time where our skilfulness is beginning to backfire. As the desire for production and consumption is growing, the environmental impacts increase. Climate change has in many ways become the product of modernity. However, these relatively new circumstances are met with more and more awareness. One example is how Swedish grocery stores, in this case COOP, have expanded their range of vegetarian foods. They claim to take responsibility for the planet and for a greener future. In the last two years, they have released two rather noteworthy commercials, with the aim of reducing meat-eating. By applying a narrative and semiotic analysis, and by using Becks theories on reflexive modernization as framework, this essay has studied these commercials in order to understand how they communicate their plant based alternatives in relation to a changing society. The results showed that both commercials portray a growing concern for the planet and the prevailing change of its climate. To prevent these conditions from accelerating, they suggest less meat on the plate. Likewise, semiotic tools, like falling trees or flooding cities, are used to enhance the significance of the narrative. In conclusion, both commercials show to be in line with Becks observations of the modernized world – an acknowledgement of its detrimental character. Additively, they function as a means of addressing the issues of modernity and meat-eating in particular.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-18T11:59:26Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Pedro Paulo Mesquita Mendes - 2016.pdf: 5563418 bytes, checksum: a9538f057971406ed20a30e77a9f4f80 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-18T11:59:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Pedro Paulo Mesquita Mendes - 2016.pdf: 5563418 bytes, checksum: a9538f057971406ed20a30e77a9f4f80 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-18T11:59:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Pedro Paulo Mesquita Mendes - 2016.pdf: 5563418 bytes, checksum: a9538f057971406ed20a30e77a9f4f80 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-05 / The environmental risk is highlighted on the global stage and in various sciences, after increasing the environmental concerns, such as the rise of the spirit of insecurity and the uncertainty in the quality of life in the future. Such aspects transpired / transpire the notion that society lives in a constant condition of vulnerability and, increasingly susceptible to new risks from modernity. However much that resembles the term risk is away from pollution concepts, degradation, environmental impacts or depreciation of natural resources. In other words, the risk is the probability or possibility of a disastrous event occurs, may cause loss, destruction or irreparable damage to human life and / or material goods. Thus, the terms threat, danger and disasters are interconnected, and sometimes may be mistaken or even considered risk synonymous. However, the risk study stands out with the formulation of the theory of reflexive modernity, with its cornerstone in the idea that "society threat to itself." As Beck sociologists, Giddens and Lash (2011) the developers / proponents of this theory. From this, it defined the main purpose of this dissertation, analyze the risks in modern times, and the city of Catalão, located in the extreme southeast of the state of Goiás, as a study area for understanding environmental risks through the theory of reflexive modernity. The approach method used in a predominant way, was the deductive method, but mixed with the observational method. Since the methodology was based on three steps: literature on risk and its variations, as well as reflexive modernity; field research for the identification, characterization and verification of the risks in the spatial area, through technical visits to public and private entities bodies, observation form, photographic records and geographic coordinates of collections; and finally mapping in map for the production of synthesis of the major environmental risks of the area studied. The classification adopted environmental risk is the adaptation of the model presented by Egler (1996), which divides into three follow-up, namely natural, technological and social. The city of Catalão (GO) has, in general, more risk associated with technological risks or inefficient infrastructure, as follows: two areas of risk to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) for overhead transmission power lines (LT) , an area the power distribution substation, such as twenty-one points by transmission antennas Mobile Phone System - Radiobases stations (ERB), three points for risk of dam breaking, three areas for risk of fire, twenty six risk points for gas stations activity, as well as risk of stretch by rail and road. Already the natural hazards present two areas of exogenous geological risk and fifteen points for hydrological risks, divided into two areas by flood, eleven by flooding and two by flood. It was concluded that the catalana society is exposed to the adverse effects discussed in the theory of reflexive modernization. It also highlights the need to prepare the Plan Risk Reduction (PMRR). / O risco ambiental ganha destaque no cenário global e em diversas ciências, após o crescente aumento nas inquietações ambientais, tal como, pela ascensão do espírito de insegurança e pelas incertezas na qualidade de vida no futuro. Tais aspectos transpareceram/transparecem a noção de que a sociedade vive numa incessante condição de vulnerabilidade, e que, cada vez mais, susceptível aos novos riscos oriundos da modernidade. Entretanto, por mais que se assemelhe, o termo risco se afasta dos conceitos de poluição, degradação, impactos ambientais ou depreciação de recursos naturais. Ou seja, o risco é a probabilidade ou possibilidade de um evento desastroso ocorrer, podendo causar perdas, destruição ou danos irreparáveis a vida humana e/ou aos bens materiais. Assim, os termos ameaças, perigo e desastres estão interligados, e por vezes, podendo ser confundidos ou até mesmo considerados como sinônimos de risco. Porém, o estudo de risco se destaca com a formulação da teoria da modernidade reflexiva, tendo sua pedra fundamental na concepção de que “a sociedade ameaça a si mesma”. Sendo os sociólogos Beck, Lash e Giddens (2011) e Brüseke (2001) os elaboradores/defensores desta teoria. A partir disso, definiu-se a principal proposta desta dissertação, analisar os riscos na modernidade, tendo a cidade de Catalão, localizada no extremo sudeste do estado de Goiás, como área de estudo para compreensão dos riscos ambientais, através da teoria da modernidade reflexiva. O método de abordagem utilizado, de forma predominante, foi o método dedutivo, porém mesclado com o método observacional. Já a metodologia baseou-se em três etapas: pesquisa bibliográfica sobre riscos e suas vertentes, bem como, modernidade reflexiva; pesquisa de campo para a identificação, caracterização e verificação dos riscos no recorte espacial, através de visitas técnicas em órgãos públicos e entidades privadas, ficha de observação, registros fotográficos e coletas de coordenadas geográficas; e por fim, levantamento cartográfico para produção do mapa síntese dos principais riscos ambientais da área estuda. A classificação do risco ambiental adotada é a o modelo apresentado por Egler (1996), sendo trabalhada apenas os riscos naturais e tecnológicos. A cidade de Catalão (GO) apresenta, de forma geral, maior número de risco associado aos riscos tecnológicos ou infraestruturas ineficientes, sendo: duas áreas de risco à exposição a campos eletromagnéticos (CEM) pela linhas de transmissão aérea de energia elétrica (LT), uma área pela subestação de distribuição de energia, tal como, dezenoves pontos pelas antenas transmissoras do Sistema de Telefonia Celular – Estações Radiobases (ERB), treze pontos por risco de rompimento de barragem, vinte seis pontos de risco por atividade de postos de combustíveis, bem como, trecho de risco por transporte ferroviário e rodoviário. Já os riscos naturais apresentam duas áreas de risco geológicos exógenos e nove pontos por riscos hidrológicos e nove zonas de matas por risco de queimadas. Concluiu-se que a sociedade catalana está exposta aos efeitos adversos discutidos na teoria da modernização reflexiva. Também se destaca a necessidade da elaboração do Plano Municipal de Redução de Risco (PMRR).

以反全球化為焦點，自己成為記者並報導生活週遭相關的議題，將之置放在Independent media center網站（本文以IMC作為通稱）中，成為共享的資訊，這是1999年底在美國西雅圖反全球化集結運動中崛起並快速蔓延的一場現象，雖說是經由科技帶動起的網路串聯，實則是一記鮮明的社會徵候，特別是資訊時代裡，在遍佈於各大城市總共約182個IMC分站中，IMC作為抵抗主流媒體的全球網絡，以自主的模式謀求資訊內涵與傳播管道的其他可能，這所展現的是由下而上對資訊批判力量的一場迸發，如何匯聚起這股力量並促成IMC運作是本文研究動機的起始。 本文由此追溯，分為三個面向討論IMC的生成動力：全球化、自反性現代化與網絡空間。 首先了解IMC的反全球化立場在於反對資訊商品化，特別是跨國集團媒體對於全球化的片面詮釋，而破除商品化之一的手段便是資訊共享，這一層次的了解引領至本文討論知識、資訊在現代化社會中的角色，知識逐漸與資訊等價而資訊本身則信任削減，使得個人不得不反覆檢視日常行動隨時做出回應，這一體認是Beck與Giddens所提自反性現代化（Reflexive Modernization）的理論內涵，繼而受到Scott Lash美學面向自反性現代化的啟發，對資訊商品化的回應便是引領出一個創造的形式，對資訊的批判是一場意義填補的遊戲，而以行動去完成。在IMC所行動的網絡空間裡，對比於Taiwan IMC的聚集狀況與香港不使用IMC機制但有香港獨立媒體In-Media的比較分析，本文歸納出IMC的生成條件不僅僅是挪用其技術，而是對於黑客（Hackers）文化與IMC代表的共享精神的認同，共享的精神由黑客文化延續而來，將資訊作為禮物，使用Open Publishing自由發佈系統體現開放原始碼軟體意義，加上部落格這場新科技的實驗，資訊充分的自由流動性與全面開放的完整性增加了實現的條件，加速因共享精神的召喚而來的聚集現象，而流動性與完整性則是資訊共享的前提。 統整上述三個面向的分析，本文於結論中整理出研究發現，在自反性現代化作用之下，IMC所批判的資訊商品化有其改變的可能，以共享資訊作為行動來實踐其批判，完成了重新定義資訊的目的，這場具有創造性的實驗裡，本文於結論中討論IMC可能的社會影響，並在結語提出本研究的限制。 / The motive of this dissertation is inspired by a network phenomenon of IMC in 1999, which occurred at the scene of anti-globalization in Seattle. Readers of IMC (Independent media center) website volunteered to post their own articles related to anti-globalization issues on line and urged to set up a local branch site for the possibility of non-mainstream information production though an autonomous communication environment. The wild spread of IMC local branch sites emerged and prompted not only through new technology but also the burst of information critique in the form of bottom-up reflected ideology. Therefore, the naissance of IMC is the motivation of this dissertation. To broaden the theoretical aspects for answering question, the perspectives of research question divided by three dimensions, including: Globalization, Reflexive Modernization and Network Space. According to literatures of globalization, the statement of anti-globalization of IMC is against information commercialization, meanwhile, the perception of information as products also led IMC to respond to it with the action of the spirit of sharing information. Refer to the theory of Reflexive Modernization, it doesn’t only explain how this perception shaped up (refer to the interpretation of Beck and Giddens) but also clarify that the responses as a creative acting was inspired by the transformation of information connotation in our daily life (refer to the interpretation of Scott Lash). In addition, IMC took place at the network space, comparing to Taiwan IMC and Hong Kong anti-globalization websites, we draw a conclusion of naissance of IMC to the fact of hackers’ spirit, which means they treat the information as gift and the open publishing system combined with Blog features operated by IMC as the presuppositions of sharing information. To sum up the three dimensions of analysis, we concluded that the possibility of critique of information caused by IMC was created by the dynamic operation of globalization and reflexive modernization, meanwhile, we finalized the redefinition of information based upon the network space. We also brought up the possible social impacts generated by IMC phenomenon and research limits of this dissertation.

Diploma thesis "The Concept of Tradition in the Context of the Theory of Reflexive Modernization" deals with the phenomenon of the tradition and its influence on the construction of the social order and the construction of individual biographies in the modern era. The thesis rests on the theory of reflexive modernization which is well- known in sociological theory thanks to Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens. The present reinterpretations of their papers quite often lead to the incorrect explanation of the current reality. Then, the reality is claimed to be detraditionalized. Using the concept of relativization I reject considering the actual state as the state without tradition. The aim of the concept of relativization, which is supported by the principle of sociological imagination, is to dispute this radical statement. The postulate of relativization is demonstrated on the example of the traditional social forms, such as nuclear family. In a wider perspective the aim of the thesis is to declare the continuing tendencies in social sciences to emphasize only the selected aspects of social reality.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar alguns aspectos concernentes às recentes inovações tecnológicas, e suas conseqüências para o meio ambiente. Embora não exista desenvolvimento social sem o progresso econômico e cientifico, não se pode conceber a existência de um Estado Democrático de Direito sem a preservação ambiental. A consolidação dos direitos e garantias fundamentais só é possível com a concretização do desenvolvimento sustentável, hoje tido como mera utopia. Como forma de mitigar as constantes agressões aos ecossistemas, estuda-se como a modernidade influencia na formação da Sociedade de Risco, marcada pela existência de graves situações que por muitas vezes passam desapercebidas, mas representam profundas ameaças para a humanidade. O projeto moderno mostra-se, hoje, como impraticável graças aos seus próprios fundamentos. Trata-se do contexto da modernização reflexiva. Acredita-se que mediante a adoção do postulado da cautela, concretizada pelo princípio da precaução, estar-se-á dando um importante passo para o controle dos riscos existentes. O Brasil enfrenta no presente momento tais questões, dada a necessidade de regulamentação da produção e consumo dos organismos geneticamente modificados, também conhecidos como alimentos transgênicos. Nesse caso, o instrumento normativo que irá disciplinar o uso do princípio da precaução em nosso país pode ser um importante instrumento de defesa desta concepção democrática da interpretação da legislação ambiental, inclusive no campo da hermenêutica constitucional. / [en] This work is intended to analyze some aspects concerning the recent technological innovations, and their consequence to the ambient. Although there is no social development without economic progress, we cannot conceive the existence of a rightfull Democratic State without the preservation of the ambient. The consolidation of the rights and fundamental warranties is only possible with the concretization of sustained development, today considered as utopic. As a way to mitigate the continuous agressions to the ecosystem, we study how modernity influences the formation of the Risk Society, marked by the existance of serious situations that many times go unperceived, but represent a profound menace for humanity. The modern project seems, today, unpracticable thanks to his own foundations. It is believed that, through the adoption of a postulate of caution, concreted by the caution principle, an important step is given for the control of risks. At present, Brasil is living these questions, due to the necessity to regulate the production and use of genetically modified organisms, also known as transgenic foods. In this case, the normative instrumets that are going to disciplinate the use of the principle of caution in our country may be an important instrument of defense of this democratic conception of the interpretation of ambiental laws, inclusive in the field of democratic hermeneutic.

<p><i>Offentligt rum och vardagens politik</i> handlar om hur 1990- talets sociala förändring, med en rörelse från ett samhälle integrerat av arbetsetiken mot ett samhälle organiserat utifrån konsumtionsestetiken, förändrar demokratins villkor i och för det offentliga rummet. Det mer preciserade syftet är att undersöka vilka konsekvenser den sociala förändringen får för utövandet av vardagens politik i det offentliga rummet. Den övergripande frågeställningen är vad ett fritt ord innebär, vad är det fritt från och för vem är det fritt? </p><p>Centrala begrepp i studien är: <i>Medborgaren</i>, dvs. individens kollektiva identitet som politisk varelse. <i>Decentraliserat politiskt begrepp</i>, där utförandet av politik inte är förbehållet den parlamentariska sfären, utan något som sker i vår vardag, vardagens politik. <i>Konsumtionsestetik</i>, där identitetsbildande och rörlighet i det sociala rummet sker efter en individuell och upplevelsebaserad logik.</p><p>Det empiriska materialet består av tidningsartiklar från det offentliga samtalet om medborgarlön och är analyserade utifrån ett diskursanalytiskt perspektiv.</p>

Offentligt rum och vardagens politik handlar om hur 1990- talets sociala förändring, med en rörelse från ett samhälle integrerat av arbetsetiken mot ett samhälle organiserat utifrån konsumtionsestetiken, förändrar demokratins villkor i och för det offentliga rummet. Det mer preciserade syftet är att undersöka vilka konsekvenser den sociala förändringen får för utövandet av vardagens politik i det offentliga rummet. Den övergripande frågeställningen är vad ett fritt ord innebär, vad är det fritt från och för vem är det fritt? Centrala begrepp i studien är: Medborgaren, dvs. individens kollektiva identitet som politisk varelse. Decentraliserat politiskt begrepp, där utförandet av politik inte är förbehållet den parlamentariska sfären, utan något som sker i vår vardag, vardagens politik. Konsumtionsestetik, där identitetsbildande och rörlighet i det sociala rummet sker efter en individuell och upplevelsebaserad logik. Det empiriska materialet består av tidningsartiklar från det offentliga samtalet om medborgarlön och är analyserade utifrån ett diskursanalytiskt perspektiv.

The work deals with the phenomenon of so called watchdog organizations. The increasing number and influence of these organizations indicates a creation of new social movement. The authoress defines them as a type of public benefit nongovernmental organizations focused on the controlling of the public sphere or advocating and asserting a "public interest" in relation to the democratization of society. The authoress target is to understand this type of action, so she asks herself the question: Which frameworks are used by watchdog activists for the interpretation of their acting? At first there is briefly presented the concept of watchdog in the context of wider reflections of contemporary society, mainly in the context of reflexive modernity, monitory and participatory democracy and information society. Secondly there is introduced Goffman's framework analysis and the related conceptualization of framework of social movements by Benford and Snow. The authoress highlights a definition of frames as the principles of selection, emphasis and presentation about what happens, and what matters. In the next part of this work, there are presented the methodology and results of the qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with watchdog activists. The research is settled in the area of...