Language, Discourse and Imaginaries of Risk

Risk and uncertainty are not only calculated, governed or experienced; they are also narrated, visualised, symbolised and contested through language and discourse. Concepts such as crisis, resilience, vulnerability, preparedness, security, responsibility, catastrophe, opportunity and transition do not simply describe uncertain futures. They shape how risks become publicly visible, politically actionable and socially meaningful. This session invites papers that examine the role of language, discourse, narratives and imaginaries in the social construction, communication and governance of risk and uncertainty.

We welcome theoretical and empirical contributions exploring how risk is framed in public debate, media, policy, science, activism, expert cultures, organisational settings and everyday life. Papers may address competing imaginaries of climate change, pandemics, migration, war, digital technologies, AI, health, disasters, financial instability or other uncertain futures. Of particular interest are contributions that analyse how discourses of risk distribute responsibility, legitimise interventions, mobilise publics, generate trust or distrust, and include or exclude particular voices and experiences.

The session seeks to connect discourse-oriented approaches with broader sociological debates on power, inequality, affect, knowledge, institutions and everyday practices. It asks how language and imaginaries shape what societies fear, hope for, prepare for, ignore or render politically possible.