SY101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Thomas Edison, Risk Society

• School: WLU
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SY101
• Professor: Glenda Wall

Document Summary

Chapter 13 technology, the environment, and social movements. Normal accident: accidents that are inevitable although unpredictable b/c of the complexity of modern technologies. Risk society: society where technology distributes danger environmental danger to all categories of population (at varying degrees: occurs from other causes / not only technology (eg. environment) Note: technology only leads to economic growth once social conditions allow for it. Problem: degree of threat varies depending on social condition. Social construction of environmental problems: environmental racism: tendency to heap environmental dangers on disadvantaged + disadvantaged racial minorities. Northern hemisphere cause more problems while enjoying disproportionate share + live with fewer risks vs. southern hemisphere. Collective action: people working in unison to bring about rest to social/political/economic change. Social movement: collective attempt to change all / part of political or social order by means of rioting, petitioning, striking, demonstration, unions etc.