Moderne politics of fear
Contemporary Politics of Fear

Private and Public Uncertainty in Global Risk Society: Marlene Streeruwitz Die Schmerzmacherin (2011) and Thomas von Steinaecker Das Jahr, in dem ich aufhörte mir Sorgen zu machen und anfing zu träumen (2013)

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses contemporary strategies of presenting the global threat in so called global risk society (Ulrich Beck), basing on the novels of Marlene Streeruwitz and Thomas von Steinaecker. Both works may well be interpreted as a thorough diagnosis of both private and social alarmism. Continuous anticipation of threats and a permanent wish to insure against all possible risks limit individual and public freedom, trigger a notion of instability and make citizens become the hostages of insuarance agencies and security companies.

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