Review of the book: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed., St. Martin\u27s Press 2000). List of Figures and Tables, List of Contributors, Preface, Index. ISBN 0-312-22216-5 [264 pp. $65.00. Hardbound, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010]

Cutler, Amy

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)Volume 12Number 3 Issue number 3/4, Fall 2001 Article 11September 2001Review of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory,Science and Environmental Decision Making(Maurie J. Cohen, ed.)Amy CutlerFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/riskPart of the Environmental Health Commons, and the Sociology CommonsThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the University of New Hampshire – School of Law at University of New HampshireScholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002) by an authorized editor of University ofNew Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact ellen.phillips@law.unh.edu.Repository CitationAmy CutlerReview of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed.), 12 RISK335 (2001).Book Reviews 335Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and EnvironmentalDecision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed., St. Martin's Press 2000). Listof Figures and Tables, List of Contributors, Preface, Index. ISBN 0-312-22216-5 [264 pp. $65.00. Hardbound, 175 Fifth Avenue, NewYork, NY 10010].Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and EnvironmentalDecision Making is a compilation of essays on environmentalsociological theory. It contains case studies that draw attention to thelack of the sociological discipline in risk assessment. Each of the sixsections tackles the sociological perspective of environmental riskperception.Following an introduction, the second section critiques the methodsof risk assessment and shortcomings of the rational actor theory, whichexcludes illogical human behavior. The third section introduces thereader to a new category of risk assessment using examples ofcommunities' voluntary versus involuntary understanding of risks. Oneexample includes populations that are unable to assess risks caused bythe breakdown of radioactive particles found in fish. These essays onenvironmental sociological theory place the social aspects of human lifeinto risk assessment theory through the constant questioning of previousassessments.Using case studies, the authors examine ways in which socialtheorists, scientists, and governments assess environmental risks. Theyuse the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska to exemplify the public relianceon risk assessment to protect the community.Through the examination of environmental risk and public policy,the book introduces the paradox of politics and science. Using scienceto first calculate the risks, the public then relies on political watchdogsto act on the risks, as related to the public interest.Although the book was written from an environmental sociologicalperspective, the authors provide brief introductions of theory whichallow a reader to understand the discussion. In Part Two, Renn et al.discuss rational actor theories through the rational actor paradigm(RAP) in relation to how it determines risk. 1 The authors go into greatI Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision12 Risk: Health, Safety & Environment 335 [Fall 2001]detail discussing the factors of human action and how they relate to thisparadigm, using examples of rational actions. The foundation of therisk paradigm helps the reader understand the authors' criticalviewpoint that RAP has not proven self-sufficient enough to be acomplete analysis of risk behaviors.Cohen provides pertinent examples of hazardous environmentalissues, such as the heart-wrenching story of Love Canal 2 and the BrentSpar showdown, 3 furthering the discussions of risk theory. Althoughsociological theory examined by an untrained sociologist can becomedry and uninteresting, environmental issues in modernity inspireinterest in social theory. Through risk factors, such as health, the readerconnects to sociology, science, and environmental well-being.Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and EnvironmentalDecision Making presents the shortcomings of the current policy of riskassessment and how, through the introduction of environmentalsociology, risk policy would improve the lives of people in at-risksocieties. Cohen's compilation of essays provides a thorough evaluationof the assessment of environmental risk in this modern age.Amy Cuder tMaking 35 (Maurie Cohen, ed., St Martin's Press 2000).2 Id.at 123-127.3 Id. at99.t Ms. Cutler works in the Department of Graduate Admissions at Franklin PierceLaw Center. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota,and formerly was a research assistant for Greenpeace in Minneapolis, MN.

Review of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental
Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed.)

University of New Hampshire

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)
Volume 12
Number 3 Issue number 3/4, Fall 2001 Article 11
September 2001
Review of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory,
Science and Environmental Decision Making
(Maurie J. Cohen, ed.)
Amy Cutler
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/risk
Part of the Environmental Health Commons, and the Sociology Commons
This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the University of New Hampshire – School of Law at University of New Hampshire
Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002) by an authorized editor of University of
New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact ellen.phillips@law.unh.edu.
Repository Citation
Amy CutlerReview of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed.), 12 RISK
335 (2001).
Book Reviews 335
Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental
Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed., St. Martin's Press 2000). List
of Figures and Tables, List of Contributors, Preface, Index. ISBN 0-
312-22216-5 [264 pp. $65.00. Hardbound, 175 Fifth Avenue, New
York, NY 10010].
Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental
Decision Making is a compilation of essays on environmental
sociological theory. It contains case studies that draw attention to the
lack of the sociological discipline in risk assessment. Each of the six
sections tackles the sociological perspective of environmental risk
perception.
Following an introduction, the second section critiques the methods
of risk assessment and shortcomings of the rational actor theory, which
excludes illogical human behavior. The third section introduces the
reader to a new category of risk assessment using examples of
communities' voluntary versus involuntary understanding of risks. One
example includes populations that are unable to assess risks caused by
the breakdown of radioactive particles found in fish. These essays on
environmental sociological theory place the social aspects of human life
into risk assessment theory through the constant questioning of previous
assessments.
Using case studies, the authors examine ways in which social
theorists, scientists, and governments assess environmental risks. They
use the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska to exemplify the public reliance
on risk assessment to protect the community.
Through the examination of environmental risk and public policy,
the book introduces the paradox of politics and science. Using science
to first calculate the risks, the public then relies on political watchdogs
to act on the risks, as related to the public interest.
Although the book was written from an environmental sociological
perspective, the authors provide brief introductions of theory which
allow a reader to understand the discussion. In Part Two, Renn et al.
discuss rational actor theories through the rational actor paradigm
(RAP) in relation to how it determines risk. 1 The authors go into great
I Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision
12 Risk: Health, Safety & Environment 335 [Fall 2001]
detail discussing the factors of human action and how they relate to this
paradigm, using examples of rational actions. The foundation of the
risk paradigm helps the reader understand the authors' critical
viewpoint that RAP has not proven self-sufficient enough to be a
complete analysis of risk behaviors.
Cohen provides pertinent examples of hazardous environmental
issues, such as the heart-wrenching story of Love Canal 2 and the Brent
Spar showdown, 3 furthering the discussions of risk theory. Although
sociological theory examined by an untrained sociologist can become
dry and uninteresting, environmental issues in modernity inspire
interest in social theory. Through risk factors, such as health, the reader
connects to sociology, science, and environmental well-being.
Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental
Decision Making presents the shortcomings of the current policy of risk
assessment and how, through the introduction of environmental
sociology, risk policy would improve the lives of people in at-risk
societies. Cohen's compilation of essays provides a thorough evaluation
of the assessment of environmental risk in this modern age.
Amy Cuder t
Making 35 (Maurie Cohen, ed., St Martin's Press 2000).
2 Id.at 123-127.
3 Id. at99.
t Ms. Cutler works in the Department of Graduate Admissions at Franklin Pierce
Law Center. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota,
and formerly was a research assistant for Greenpeace in Minneapolis, MN.


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Review of: Risk in the Modern Age: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision Making (Maurie J. Cohen, ed.)

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