Prophet of a New Modernity: Ulrich Beck’s Legacy for Sociology

Abstract

Ulrich Beck was one of the most influential sociologists of recent decades. Concepts he developed – including risk society, individualization, cosmopolitanization, subpolitics and the democratization of science – are among the most cited, used and contested in contemporary sociology. In the wake of Beck’s recent death, this review article revisits his key contributions and legacy. He proposed that a momentous shift to a new modernity has begun and challenged sociologists as to whether the concepts they use are up to the task of tracing this emerging dynamic. Provocative, Beck asked whether concepts like the nation state, family and class are functioning as ‘zombie categories’, continuing on ..