Understanding Risk in Modern Society

The nature of modern risk finds government caught in a cleft between its role to protect the public, the aspirations of its agencies, and the expectations of the public.

BLUF

Outside narrowly defined projects and ‘tame problems’, the risks encountered in the modern world and in policy and strategy rarely readily conform to traditional frameworks and tools.

Without appreciating the variety and nature of political risks and risks arising from the nature of modern society - many of which lie outside ambitions of comprehension, control and protection - governments risk losing public confidence.

Lessons from highly resilient organisation, and frameworks from complex adaptive systems, can be used to structure responses and build capability on government.