Criticizing the idea that new technologies are independent of the society in which they are created, this up-to-date analysis explains the concept of the "risk society" and the benefits of technological change. By exploring a broad range of case studies—including young women in conflict with the law, child soldiers, welfare recipients, genetic testing, biotechnology, and new technologies—the Contributors explore whether the concept of risk has undermined a sense of trust in society. As this multidisciplinary collection illustrates, peeling back the veneer of this often highly technocratic discourse reveals a series of moral judgments about the constitution of risk and its role in organizing contemporary society.