Sociocultural vectors of effective risk communication

Abstract

Kasperson’s reflections on the ‘state of the art’ in risk communication thinking and practice set out an ambitious programmatic vision of how future progress in effective risk communication might be achieved. In this critical but supportive response, I first outline two perspectives on how progress in risk communication might be evaluated. This is followed by some discussion relating these issues to the sociocultural nature of risk communication thinking and practice, and the normative basis of underlying assumptions and ideas of effectiveness. It is suggested that inasmuch as the practical application of effective risk communication requires knowledge of human thinking and behaviour, then further considerations of some sociocultural regularities, contingencies and varieties in risk communication thinking and behaviour within particular contexts should also have practical applications.

Keywords:

• risk communication
• culture
• effectiveness
• practice
• scientific progress

Acknowledgements

I am especially grateful to Ragnar Lofstedt and Thomas Abraham for providing constructive comments that have been beneficial to this paper, any errors and omissions remain mine alone.