We live in a 'risk society' where the identification, distribution and management of risks, from new technology, environmental factors or other sources are crucial to our individual and social existence. In The Social Contours of Risk, Volumes 1 and 2, two of the world's leading and most influential analysts of the social dimensions of risk bring together their most important contributions to this fundamental and wide-ranging field. Volume II centres on the analysis and management of risk in society, in international business and multinationals, and globally. The 'acceptability' of risk to an individual depends on the context, whether the larger society or in, for example, a corporate framework. Their work clarifies the structures and processes for managing risks in the private sector and the factors that produce or impede effective decisions. The authors demonstrate that corporate culture is crucial in determining risk management. They analyse the transfer of corporate risk management systems from industrial to developing countries, and how globalization is spreading and creating new kinds of risk - the combination of traditional and modern hazards presented by climate change, technology transfer and economic growth. They describe the new priorities and capacities needed to deal with these enhanced vulnerabilities around the globe.

Jeanne X Kasperson was Research Associate Professor and Research Librarian and Roger E Kasperson is Research Professor and Distinguished Scientist also at Clark University, USA.

Part 1 Risk and Society: Framing the Issues Acceptability of Human Risk Societal Response to Hazards and Major Hazard Events: Comparing Natural and Technological Hazards Large-scale Nuclear Risk Analysis: Its Impacts and Future Part 2 Corporations and Risk Corporate Management of Health and Safety Hazards: Current Practice and Needed Research Avoiding Future Bhopals Emergency Planning for Industrial Crises: An Overview Corporate Culture and Technology Transfer Industrial Risk Management in India Since Bhopal Part 3 The Globalization of Risk Hazards in Developing Countries: Cause for Global Concern Priorities in Profile: Managing Risks in Developing Countries Risk and Criticality: Trajectories of Regional Environmental Assessing the Vulnerability of Coastal Communities to Extreme Storms: The Case of Revere, Massachusetts, US Border Crossings Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change