The Role of Power and Expertise in Social Amplification of Risk

Abstract

This chapter begins by re-highlighting the weaknesses in existing conceptualisations of the social amplification of risk framework and then provides a detailed account of social amplification of risk from the power and expertise perspectives. The account of the social amplification of risk framework provided here is based on insight from the literature (see Chaps. 1, 2 and 3). The account presented in this chapter focuses less on the ‘who’ factors used in the existing conceptualisation of the social amplification of risk framework, especially in the information mechanism stage. Instead, the emphasis here is on the ‘what’ factors shaping the social amplification (and attenuation) of risk. The emphasis on the ‘who’ factor in the existing conceptualisation of the social amplification of risk framework neglects critical underlying and salient factors that shape social amplification (or attenuation) processes in risk communication about public health and safety. Addressing these weaknesses in the existing conceptualisation of the social amplification of risk framework is essential, as the social amplification of risk framework is a key theoretical framework in the field of risk communication that shapes the understanding of individual and group perception and behavioural responses, and how risk is communicated. Moreover, the insight provided by the Policy Evaluation Risk Communication framework, originally designed within the policy context in this book, provides valuable evidence on how power and expertise shape social amplification or attenuation of risk that is applicable in broader contexts. Therefore, this can be used to adequately address the failing of the social amplification of risk framework.