Risk Society and Helplessness: flooding of the Rio Madeira

Abstract

This work discusses social, political, and economic organization in contemporary society, also known as “postmodern’, “risk’ or “post-industrial’. Its point of departure is the flooding of the Rio Madeira river and the consequences for those left homeless, in terms of the need to implement public policies minimizing losses/damages. An analysis is therefore conducted on social organization and the risks derived from economic and technological development, the new risks and their associated paradoxes, with a brief report given on sedimentation in the river and its flooding. Finally, the article also focuses on the importance of the provision of socio-emotional support to those affected by disasters.