Chinese Journal of Sociology

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Multiple Composite Risks in Transitional Society: A Study Based on the Survey of Public Risk Perception in Three Cities of China

Author 1: Liu Yan, Department of Sociology, School of Philosophy and Society，Jilin University；Author 2: Zhao Yandong, Department of Science & Technology and Society, Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development   

  1. Author 1: Liu Yan, Department of Sociology, School of Philosophy and Society，Jilin University；Author 2: Zhao Yandong, Department of Science & Technology and Society, Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development
  • Online:2011-07-20 Published:2011-07-20
  • Contact: Author 1: Liu Yan, Department of Sociology, School of Philosophy and Society，Jilin University E-mail:liuy01@jlu.edu.cn
  • About author:Author 1: Liu Yan, Department of Sociology, School of Philosophy and Society，Jilin University；Author 2: Zhao Yandong, Department of Science & Technology and Society, Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development
  • Supported by:

    This paper was supported by the National Social Science Fund Program: “Research on the Harmonious Society from the Perspective of the Risk Society Theory”（07CSH002）, the Education Administry’s Social Science Fund Program: “Research on Risk Conflict and its Early Warning in Transitional Society”（10YJC840049）, and the National Science & Technology Pillar Program : “Research on Response System of Social Science to Natural Catastrophes”（2008BAK49B06）.］

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Abstract:

An analysis of the survey data about the Chinese public perception of risks in transitional society showed characteristics of regional differences and three risk structures: a triplerisk composite with a high level of uncertainty, a doublerisk composite with a medium level of uncertainty, and a single risk with a low level of uncertainty, all coexisting as social risks. The public were generally aware of single risks with low uncertainty but they were least aware of the triplerisk composite with high uncertainty. Those with higher education were more aware of the high uncertainty in the triplerisk composite, whereas those at the bottom social strata were more aware of the uncertainty associated with single risks. The distributive structure of the public perception of the three risk types contained the Chinese public perception of the coexistence of multiple risks, reciprocal influences, and interactive dynamics, which projected the risks during the transitional process of the Chinese society.

Key words: multiple composite risks  , risk perception  , social transition  , risk society