Risk and theory in Germany

Abstract

In Germany debates about risk developed along different lines from those in many other countries. In the US, Ron Johnston noted as early as 1980 that working on risk issues was ‘big business’ (1980: 105) and, in the same year, the Society of Risk Analysis was founded which produces the well-known international journal, Risk Analysis. At this time, in Germany, similar research was less well developed; however, technical-oriented risk research, in particular in chemistry and atomic technology, was being carried out. In addition, beginning in the 1970s in domains such as cancer and pregnancy, there was a significant increase in Risk Factor Medicine (Abholz et al., 1982) although again this was ..