UNION CARBIDES BHOPAL INCIDENT - A RETROSPECTIVE

This article examines the actual events of the Bhopal gas disaster as a prelude to considering the social treatment of catastrophic risks of this variety. In the context of the conference, Bhopal is held out to be symbolic of man-made catastrophes having sudden impact and is ther efore the contrasting episode to an examination of the symbolic episod e for gradual man-made catastrophes, asbestos liability. Bhopal is the n connected to the circumstances which created a shortage of commercia l catastrophe liability insurance in the 1980s. Its influence on the r estructuring of the market is then discussed. A commentary on the buyi ng habits of large industrial corporations is also included.