The Challenges of Vulnerability : In Search of Strategies for a Less Vulnerable Social Life

Proposing an aggregative conception of vulnerability, this book provides a new framework for understanding individual experience of, and resilience to, vulnerability and promotes the need to find remedies for exposure to involuntary dependence, the unsecured future and the painful past. This book proposes an aggregative conception of vulnerability that captures the ways in which an individual experiences different aspects of disadvantage connected with human dependence on the other, the unpredictability and the irreversibility of action. This conceptualization provides a new framework for understanding individual experience of, and resilience to, vulnerability and promotes the need to find remedies for exposure to involuntary dependence, the unsecured future and the painful past. By surveying a range of studies focusing on the effectiveness of techniques employed by individuals, groups and the global community to reduce levels of vulnerability, each chapter highlights the most successful strategies to mitigate the specific forms of vulnerability. The book argues that the recognition of vulnerability as the focal point for socio-economic problems can produce important knowledge that can revitalize social imagination, inform public debates and enrich social policies conducive to developing wider forms of solidarity, security and cooperation This Book Proposes An Aggregative Conception Of Vulnerability That Captures The Ways In Which An Individual Experiences Different Aspects Of Disadvantage Connected With Human Dependence On The Other, The Unpredictability And The Irreversibility Of Action. This Conceptualization Provides A New Framework For Understanding Individual Experience Of, And Resilience To, Vulnerability And Promotes The Need To Find Remedies For Exposure To Involuntary Dependence, The Unsecured Future And The Painful Past. By Surveying A Range Of Studies Focusing On The Effectiveness Of Techniques Employed By Individuals, Groups And The Global Community To Reduce Levels Of Vulnerability, Each Chapter Highlights The Most Successful Strategies To Mitigate The Specific Forms Of Vulnerability. The Book Argues That The Recognition Of Vulnerability As The Focal Point For Socio-economic Problems Can Produce Important Knowledge That Can Revitalize Social Imagination, Inform Public Debates And Enrich Social Policies Conducive To Developing Wider Forms Of Solidarity, Security And Cooperation. Vulnerability To Adverse Events -- Towards Sociology Of Vulnerability -- The First Form Of Vulnerability -- The Second Form Of Vulnerability -- The Third Form Of Vulnerability -- The Nature Of Remedies -- Acts Of Responsibility -- Objectives Of Promising -- Functions Of Forgiveness. Barbara A. Misztal. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Also by......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Epigraph......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Introduction: The Challenges of Vulnerability......Page 10 Part I Defining Vulnerability......Page 22 1 Vulnerability to Adverse Events......Page 24 2 Towards a Sociology of Vulnerability......Page 38 3 The First Form of Vulnerability......Page 60 4 The Second Form of Vulnerability......Page 84 5 The Third Form of Vulnerability......Page 104 Part II Confronting Vulnerability......Page 124 6 The Nature of Remedies......Page 126 7 Acts of Responsibility......Page 144 8 Objectives of Promising......Page 176 9 Functions of Forgiveness......Page 206 Conclusion: The Challenges of Vulnerability Reduction......Page 230 Bibliography......Page 235 Index......Page 264