Poczucie bezpieczeństwa i potrzeba demokratycznego dialogu w epoce społeczeństwa ryzyka

Abstract

This article presents the issue of Polish citizens’ sense of security in the framework of Ulrich Beck’s risk society theory. Conditions affecting modern societies are analysed, paying special attention to the uncertainty of threat, omnipresence of risk, or state legitimation crisis. Uncertainty brings about the need of security which cannot be fully satisfied. Therefore, the author analyses data concerning sense of security, mainly on the basis of the research conducted for the World Values Survey and the Eurobarometer. Reference is also made to the concept of ‘politics of a risk society’ or ‘governing in a risk society’, and practical implications of the theoretical concepts are indicated, useful for the contemporary political elites in terms of taming the global risks. ‘Politics of a risk society’ requires mature relations between the citizens, the experts and the politicians – relations in which, according to Anna Coote, ‘mutual respect and democratic dialogue replace blind faith’.