Abstract
This paper first explores the conflictual discourses employed
by government agencies, citizens’ initiatives, and environmental
organizations over the construction of a High
Voltage Power Station (KYT) for demands of the 2004
Olympic Games, as presented in media reports and movement
literature over a period of one year. Having in mind recent
criticisms targeting the lack of empirical evidence in Ulrich
Beck’s risk theorization, this exploration is of distinct
importance. Secondly, it takes into account that both the defensive
character of societal action and mistrust to expert authorities
have been confirmed as prevalent characteristics of
both the Greek and the general risk social context. The paper
attempts to re-evaluate and/or complement existing perspectives
of societal activism in general and environmental mobilizations
in particular within the confines of the Greek social
context. As a tentative conclusion, it is suggested that the
risk perspective offers a novel prism for the examination of
societal activism without confining it to the characteristics of
individual national contexts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 133-142 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Human Ecology Review |
| Volume | 12 (2) |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2005 |
Bibliographical note
Citations:• J. Horne and G. Whannel (2012), Understanding the Olympics, Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge.
• G. Hayes and J. Horne (2011), ‘Sustainable Development, shock and awe? London 2012 and civil society’, Sociology, 45/5, pp. 749-764.
• E. Apostolopoulou, (2009), The Social Conflicts During the Implementation of Conservation Policy in Protected Areas: Analysis and Appraisal of Conservation Policies in Greece, Doctoral Dissertation (Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Science, School of Biology, Department of Ecology).
• H. Lenskyj (2008), Olympic industry resistance: Challenging Olympic power and propaganda, Albany: State University of New York.
• KI. Kavoulakos (2008), ‘Protestation and Claiming of Public Places: A Movement in the City of Athens in the 21st century, in D. Emanouel, E. Zakopoulou, R. Kautantzoglou, T. Maloutas and A. Hadjiyanni (eds), Social and Spatial Transformations in the 21st Century Athens, Athens: EKKE.
• C. Rootes (2007), Environmental Protest in Western Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• S. Dodouras and P. James (2006), ‘Athens 2004 Olympiad: System Ideas to Map Multidisciplinary Views – Reporting on the Views of the Host Community’, Systemist, 28/2, pp. 70-81.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology