Socially produced qualification or quantification of probable events? the concept of risk articulating a technological scientific dispute

Abstract

This paper states and analyzes different ways of risk conceptualization articulated in a discussion between scientists, technologists and members of environmentalist movements. This discussion, related to nuclear research, development and production is originated both by the sale to Australia of a reactor for research and medical applications designed by an argentinean company and the signature of a Cooperation Agreement in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between both governments. Under this debate lies various ways of conceptualizing risk that depends on the social actors and their postures regarding the conflict. From one point of view risk implies just a statistics probability related to the rate cost/benefit. From another perspective risk contents is settled taking into account the dimension and quality of its possible consequences. The analysis of these conceptions from an ethnographic approach shows the possibilities of risk as an analytic category useful to make a profound study of the specific process, values, know ledges and projects that constitute social life.