Security risk and its perception in the eyes of the Czech public

The author presents a record of reflections of the ideas of U. Beck, A. Gid dens, and of the culturalistic approach in contemporary concepts of risk ma nagement and in current criminology (the concept of actuarial justice, J. Y oung). The author lays emphasis on the study of reactions in public opinion , particularly from the viewpoint of fear of crime and a specific evaluatio n of individual risks. Some sort of adaptation to risk is perhaps occurring risk is becoming 'normalised' within the framework of the overall modernis ation of society. Research on attitudes confirms the well-known 'paradox of fear'.