The Experience and Significance of Risk Perception in Contemporary Society

Case Study: A Reflection of the Risk of Contemporary Society According to the Islamic Religious Community in the Republic of Croatia

Abstract

This paper analyzes risk perception in the Islamic religious community of the Republic of Croatia. It focuses primarily on the perception of technical and natural risks. By linking Anthony Giddens’ and Ulrich Beck’s theory of reflexive modernity and Shmuel Eisenstadt’s theory of multiple modernity, we shall analyze the secular and transcendental dimension of the relationship toward risk within the structure of a
particular religious community The case study enables the aforementioned relationship to be supported empirically by means of the focus group approach in which three imams of the Zagreb Islamic Centre took part. The basic aim of this research was to investigate the perceptions, experiences, relationships and significance of Islamic religious organization in the Republic of Croatia with regard to the risks inherent in a contemporary reflexive society.