Back to Risk in Modern Society
Universiteit Leiden

Risk in Modern Society

Risk has become one of the defining features of modern society. Almost daily, we are preoccupied with assessing, discussing, or preventing a wide variety of risks. It is a cornerstone notion for businesses and organizations, but also for nation states and their many levels of government. And even for individuals, risk and the avoidance or embracing thereof, is a key theme. The course Risk in Modern Society sheds light on the broad concept of risk. In five distinctive weeks, this course closely examines various types of safety and security risks, and how these are perceived and dealt with in a wide array of professional and academic fields, ranging from criminology, counter-terrorism and cyber security, to philosophy, safety and medical science. Developed in collaboration with scholars from three universities (Leiden, Delft and Erasmus), this course will search for answers to questions such as: “what is risk?”, “how do we study and deal with risk?”, “does ‘perceived risk’ correspond to 'real' risk?”, and “how should we deal with societal perceptions of risk, safety and security?

Status: Decision Making
Status: Cybersecurity
BeginnerCourse11 hours

Featured reviews

CC

5.0Reviewed Apr 12, 2020

This is a high-quality course with top-notch professors/instructors. Great content and materials. I learned a LOT.

RC

5.0Reviewed Jul 9, 2023

Excellent course, well-targeted content for those who are not yet familiar with the subject

AG

4.0Reviewed Nov 29, 2020

gained valuable insight and understood the different factors involved and how they were grouped in the field of study

MC

5.0Reviewed Apr 11, 2022

The course is highly recommended. The topics discussed are well presented and clear. Kudos to all the professors!

RH

5.0Reviewed Feb 27, 2018

Excellent presentations by all instructors. Very well laid with enough depth to not overwhelm. Simply superior!

OO

5.0Reviewed Jun 28, 2023

very educative on risk safety and security.i am more equipped to handle risks in their right perspectives rather over amplifying them .

JB

5.0Reviewed Dec 30, 2020

This course was very informative. It went in a direction I totally did not expect. Really gave me a lot to envision and think about, and have some kind of insight into.

GB

5.0Reviewed Dec 10, 2019

A great overview of Risk in modern society, well explained and informative!

AK

5.0Reviewed May 15, 2018

Very good and relavent course. Thanks to the instructors and the university and Coursera for putting this course. I am sure this course will be updated every time the new risks show on horizon.

MR

5.0Reviewed Sep 16, 2019

Great introductory course - well presented, short and full of information. Thanks

SD

4.0Reviewed Sep 24, 2022

T​his course provides a good introduction to risks and the principles of risk management.

RA

5.0Reviewed Apr 28, 2021

The course was smooth and excellent to learn what I expected. The discussion options really interacted with peer learner and boosted up the confidence.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 78

Elina Viitasaari
5.0
Reviewed Apr 28, 2024
Renee Kk3
5.0
Reviewed Jun 17, 2020
Gunther Baugh
5.0
Reviewed Feb 7, 2019
Ashok Kumar
5.0
Reviewed May 16, 2018
Ripon Kumar Adhikary
5.0
Reviewed Apr 29, 2021
Cindy Barnes
5.0
Reviewed May 9, 2020
Kristopher Rubesh
5.0
Reviewed Mar 2, 2020
Austin Craddock
5.0
Reviewed Sep 18, 2021
Chris Hanselaar
5.0
Reviewed Jun 21, 2020
YILA LOKOLO
5.0
Reviewed Jun 9, 2022
D Smith
5.0
Reviewed Apr 21, 2020
TRINH LE
5.0
Reviewed Apr 4, 2024
jessica dos santos nure
5.0
Reviewed Nov 8, 2018
JUAN GUSTAVO MOSQUEIRA
5.0
Reviewed Oct 29, 2025
Martín Vara
5.0
Reviewed May 8, 2020
Arrion H
5.0
Reviewed Jul 27, 2020
Francisco Javier Gutiérrez Morales
5.0
Reviewed Apr 23, 2018
Jeffrey Barr
5.0
Reviewed Dec 30, 2020
Klaus D Pluemer
5.0
Reviewed Mar 11, 2018
Igor Miletić
5.0
Reviewed Mar 30, 2018