'Only those with jobs and food on the table can afford to worry about the environment'.

Is
Beck's Risk Society thesis applicable beyond the First World?
Introduction
Having travelled around the world and in particular developing parts of the world , it bring a lot
of surprise when children are found looking for the food from public waste whereas on the other
parts of the world , children are given protect to the heights of the safety. I have seen people
drinking contaminated water, obsessed for jobs despite of severe internal security threats. Take
the case of Pakistan, the South Asian Centrally located economy of about 60% of the population
has to survive under $2 per day. In Pakistan, Indian and Bangladesh, more than half of the
population is desirous of at least fulfilling their basic requirements of life. India, the world's
second fastest growing economy, has been ranked as poorer than its blighted enemy Pakistan in a
United Nations report on global poverty. In absolute terms, 41.6 per cent of India's 1.1 billion
people earned less than 78 pence per day compared with 22.6 per cent of Pakistan's 173 million(
UN Report 2011 as mentioned by Nelson, 2011). Proper education and medicine in the rural areas
are thought of joys of elites. They are enforced to think of their existence due to poverty and
unemployment. In such a case, parents instead of sending their children to schools prefer child
labour for them. They are bound to support their family and use them as earning hands from the
early age. Even in the fastest growing south Asian Economy of India it is said that while they
have a new group of millionaires, on the other side people linger to suffer limitlessly. Masses
still live underneath the poverty line and they sleep hungry. The economic growth patterns
unfortunately have not flowed in their direction. Also one common characteristic among the
selected countries and Pakistan is that the poverty is largely a rural phenomenon
On daily basis there are cases reported on daily basis that parent commit suicide having unable to
full fill their children basis requirement.
25 Years Old Bashiran decided there was only one way to deal with crushing poverty. She
jumped in front of a speeding train with her two sons and daughter, all under the age of 3
(tribune 2012)
Around the globe, in a population of 7 billion people, around 2 billion are poor and Considering
these fact and diving deep into the modern perspective and theories of risk management and
communicating the risk brings a lot of surprises and challenges along.
Here it is also important to consider the unemployment rate in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
A theoretical perspective
Beck risk society theory argued that environmental threats and associated risks had become the
predominant creation, not just an unpleasant, manageable side-effect, of industrial society. He
presented the fact that though humans have always been subjected to levels of risk such as
natural disasters - there have usually been perceived as produced by non-human forces. Modern
societies, however, are exposed to risks such as pollution, newly discovered illnesses, crime, that
are the result of the modernization process itself. Beck and Gidden have categorized these risks
as external risks and manufactured risk. Externals are beyond human control but the
manufactured risks are the product of human activity and that it is possible for societies to assess
the level of risk that is being produced, or that is about to be produced.
Research Objective
This research aims to investigate if it is possible for the third world societies these to worry about
the manufactured risk or anticipating deeply what is coming ahead? Is it practical to determine
how the threats such as terrorism, infectious diseases are determined and handled when there is a
war of survival going on?
The research will prove to be food for thought for those who are interested in societies to know
about the significance of managing the risk coming ahead and are not assessing the need that
unless basic necessities of these societies are fulfilled , they cannot be motivated to think beyond
their current issues.
Study Framework
It has been decades that scholars are working to progress in risk communication practice by
evolving, challenging, and refining communication models and related theories that endeavour to
explain both the expected and unexpected effects of risk communication. These efforts have led
to a wealth of scientific findings, but there is no only one theory or model that summarizes or
covers the complete choice of thoughts that impact risk communication efforts.
The study is primarily based on risk communication theory where the theory suggest that pre-
event risk communication, practical readiness actions, including training and education on likely
risk characteristics of numerous intimidations, disaster communication and providing directions
regarding protective actions to take immediately prior to, in the midst of, or during the hours
immediately following an event, messages communicating needs and guidance in the weeks,
months, and years following an event are important for avoiding the risks. This implies that
while we talk manufactured risk or any risk which is expected, a better communication can prove
to be an effective tool and is one form of the risk management. All communities need a way to
communicate about present, emerging, and evolving risks.
This should also be kept in mind for third world countries we are talking about that, there is a
general agreement that risk communication is a reciprocal process between the communicator
and the recipients of the communications.
Beyond that, different definitions often include unique variables and understandings.
Risk communication definitions are often similar to the definition cited by Covello (1992), who
inscribed of the process of exchanging information among interested parties about the nature,
intensity, meaning, or control of a risk (p. 359). Other definitions emphasize the importance of
risk management (McComas, 2006) the need for interchange and discussions between
communicators and stakeholders and the necessity of on-going risk monitoring (Coombs, 2012).
In the light of the above theory, there must be a clear communication in order to convey the
message.
The argument made also considered Maslow hierarchy of need. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a
theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human
Motivation" in Psychological Review. The writer has considered the fact that whether its a
business man, a market or a politician or a common individual, the theory has its own
implications for everyone. The theory states about human motivation and the factors behind that.
He is of the view that individuals possess a set of motivation systems unrelated
to rewards or unconscious desires and that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When
one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfil the next one, and so on. The earliest and most
widespread version of Maslow's (1943) hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs,
often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.
This five phase model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety,
love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization). The deficiency or basic needs are said to
motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to fulfill such needs will become stronger
the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes without food the
more hungry they will become. One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on
to meet higher level growth needs. Once these needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may
be able to reach the highest level called self-actualization. Every person is capable and has the
desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is
often disrupted by failure to meet lower level needs. Life experiences including divorce and loss
of job may cause an individual to fluctuate between levels of the hierarchy. Maslow noted only
one in a hundred people become fully self-actualized because our society rewards motivation
primarily based on esteem, love and other social needs.

The argument made is the fact that in countries where 60% of the population does not have
access to food, clothing and basic necessities of life, how they may be brought into the net of
those where life security comes in to play.
This research make these two theories basis of study as it explain that once, you low level needs
are met; you can worry about the higher level of things. In Maslow Hierarchy of need food is the
basic requirement.
Research methodology
The unstructured interviews will be used as suitable mode of gathering the information from the
countries where people have major problems as food, health and job including Pakistan, India
Bangladesh. It is intended to know where the environmental does and safety related issues concern
them. The questionnaire will be designed keeping in view the Maslow hierarchy of Need and the
various stages it has.
Anticipated problems
To know what issue should be handled first specially when international development cooperation
try to for Counter terrorism and they need cooperation. How the needs of the major part of the
world differs from what is being presented in the so called theory of modernism. Also it is
pertinent to explore if the communicating the risk manufactured risk will be helpful in third world
societies and is it going to sufficiently impact the people and control of risk.
Evidence
To address the issue that whether the people of third world countries are more concerned about
their security or risk provided that most of them are unable to fulfill their needs. I conducted a
self-administered study in 300 Pakistanis, Bangladesh and Indian Nationals through a
representative. The sample include 50% of those belonging to the middle income group attended
a four year college and looking for job and 50% of the people having family income of lower
than 5 dollars per day. All respondents in the study were selected on random basis. The average
age was 20, 70% of them were married and the rest of 30% were unmarried but looking for jobs
to support their families. The sample group through unstructured interview was asked about
their family size, their financial responsibilities and their key preferences and views about a
perfect life. The basis of the study was whether or not any of the samples is worried about the
life threat of insecurities while living in countries fighting the war of terror. Though there is a
difference in the opinion is found on the basis of marital status, still there are similarities in terms
of preferences. Amongst the Highly underprivileged and those living below 5 dollar a day, Out
of 150 responded of these people, 100 said that food is the key for survival, several interesting
Reponses are generated.
Quoting Muhammad Bashir , living in a slum area of Pakistan
I am surprised that you people are planning about our future and our security. Nobody is
concerned about the fact that our children wander for food, water and cloths
Lakshami Narain of Mumbai Slum area
I am not worried about life and death and threats and terrorism, I am worried that today I
was unable to make sufficient money to fed my children
Another Anonymous responded
My first risk is facing the toughest challenge of hunger every day. If I fortunately would be
saved from terrorism, I would be the victim of hunger and the depression of seeing such
discrimination amongst the people of same country and same color
Out of 150 seeking for Jobs, 75 that is 50% are of the view that though they are surviving on
their family income but job is currently the most important things after having number of years
and plenty of money spent in college. Now they are worried about making a career and thinking
about a financially rather than physically secure future. Quoting Bilal Ahmed, a fresh graduate of
Pakistan University
My aim is to get a job a be financially independent. During Studies I thought of this world as
ready to give me pleasant surprises once I will finish my studies but I it surprised me in a
negative way. Its been a year, I found nothing. Its becoming a depression now. I need job and
cannot afford parents dependency any more. Even if I am asked to work in Fata or where the life
threats are more, I wont refuse. I cannot face this depression of being jobless anymore
Zaeem recently graduated from Kolkata in his interview with our representative quoted that
Love and security are the dreams of those fed well and sleep well. We have more basic things
such as job to worry about
This finding was consistent with the study given in 1994 presented by Maslow and the
hypothesis of the study that only those with job and food may think about Modernized and
handling manufactured risks. Data revealed that persons who are jobless, homeless and foodless
are more exposed to potential risk and are more likely to be victimized but they are not worried
about the associated risk as mentioned in Daily Routine Theory. Also Women who lived in slum
areas were more exposed to risk than those who didnt.
The fact also worth mentioning here is the relevancy of the argument with Routine Activity
Theory. Introduced by Cohen and Felson (1979), Routine activities theory is an environmental,
place-focused clarification of crime, where the behavioral and social patterns and connections of
people in time and space effect when and where crimes occur. This implies that those who are in
a less secure environment can be more often victimized of crime or are more exposed to risk.
Knowing the fact that the poorest part of the world has less to worry about the fear of theft as a
result of their insecure environment as they have less financial and monetary assets to loose, yet
the risk of being victim of a terrorist activity is there and that they are more exposed to risk. It is
interesting to relate it with routine activities theory which assumes that once motivated offenders
and appropriate targets meet in the non-presence of proficient guardians, crime possibly happens
and the threat is there. This contrariwise, the absenteeism of any of these circumstances might
be adequate to stop a crime from happening. By presenting this theory authors intended to
highlight how principal social conditions are at the back end and describe the everyday activities
of people. This means that for the prevention of crime, it is important firstly to provide the
population a secure environment. What makes logic when people are not having sufficient to eat
to cloth, they will be provided a secure risk free environment. Also for the government bodies, it
is a sign to know that unless the basic need of individuals are met, there is no need to worry
about their safety risks.
This is Situated within the broader outline of environmental criminology, routine activities
theory advises that dipping criminal opportunities aids a key role in dropping the prevalence of
crime and that in the countries where people are suffering from basic, prior to the reduction of
criminal opportunities, creation of opportunities for food, jobs and clothing is important. When
people are fed , having sufficient job, they will themselves be able to have a better and safe
living which off course will be helpful in reducing the risk opportunities people are exposed to.
Here I would like to quote a few more Reponses of the unstructured interview conducted.
Anarkali Bhusan
I Work as a home maid and work till 9 p.m. mostly other than the weekends, my husband is
looking for job since a year. The area where I go for work is said to be the hub of robbery, rape
and kidnapping. But when I look my children asking for food, clothes and school books, I take
the risk. My fear is far less than my concern for my children. At this point of time, I am working
just like a single parent for them. I may be a next victim as there is no strict security, police
there when I come back home. I know that, 2 of my female neighbors have already been
misplaced
The above words indicates this women is more exposed to risk as there is lack of sufficient
security measures taken from the government side but she decides to do so because she has to
fulfill the needs of her children and interesting is Fear Far less than my concern for
Children
Findings
The study suggests that basic human needs are required to be met prior to make a move toward
Becks Risk Society. This is due to the fact that manufactured risk or the humanely interfered
risks are more likely to be a concern for those people who are satisfied with the basic needs as
mentioned by Maslow. A s suggested by Routine Activity theory They may be more exposed to
risk such as crime of theft, robbery, terrorism, disease due to living in a less protected
environment but still they have to make an effort for their survival and that government bodies
will be able to move toward a Beck Risk Society only when they have given sufficient
opportunities to its people in terms of food and job. It is also found that risk Communication
will only work effectively when the target group or recipient of your communication is interested
in grasping your message and that without they make a move upward from Maslow basic to
upward, they wont be able to generate maximum interest for such communication.
Some suggestion for the government bodies and policy maker of these countries can be making
the economy self-reliance, promotion of entrepreneurship through micro financing, promoting
investment to create employment opportunities, strengthens the industry by overcoming the
issues of industry , utilizing the loan and aids in truly eradicating the poverty level and job
opportunity creation in the country. Once the country is on track of economic growth , it can
make a move toward the next step of being a safe country with less risk and threats for general
public.







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