Some paradigms of regulation of risks to society

Abstract

Regulation of risks to society is one of the most important spheres of action of a modern state, and an important theme in discussions about the role of the state and public administration. The author attempted to identify several paradigms underlying risk regulation by pointing to socio-legal challenges for risk regulation in the era of regulatory capitalism. Risk regulation is a multidisciplinary issue, and legal aspects are not the only source of concern. The study of law in the governance of risk highlights the need for a critical and conceptual approach to risk governance. Each paradigm may have an impact on legal issues in technological risk regulation, and their better understanding should lead to a better understanding of the role of law in the process of risk regulation. Being focused on paradigms as generalisations, this article has been largely cast at a conceptual level; empirical conclusions mostly remained out of its sphere.