Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2017

Governance of “Global Risk Society”: The Paradigm of Complexity and Chinese Participation

(Abstract)

Fan Ruguo

The world is entering a highly uncertain “risk society.” Risk is a major feature of modern society, changing society’s operational logic and rules; society’s values and modes of behavior are being systematically reconstructed, and global governance is evolving into the governance of a “global risk society.” At present, global risk governance is fragmented and inefficient, and existing modes of public management and international governance are as yet unsuited to the requirements of risk society governance. Modern society is an intricate system of endogenous complexity, unpredictability and fragility, etc. Complexity is the fundamental mechanism driving the formation of global risk society, a society whose governance cannot but depend upon the paradigm of complexity and on Chinese participation. Research on the complexity mechanism behind the formation of the global risk society and the construction of values, culture and mechanisms that address its governance is significant for both theory and practice, enabling us to develop collaborative governance and an “anti-fragile” capacity that will identify and overcome risks.