Risk Analysis: Challenges and Perspectives

International audienceRisk analysis (RA) is at the heart of the risk management process and has been the subject of methodological,reflective or critical questions for many years. These questions challenge the foundations, practice and uses ofrisk analysis (Escande et al, 2016). Drawing on work in science and technology studies (STS), many authorsemphasise the subjective, constructed and historically situated nature of risk analysis as opposed to a visionthat would be objective and purely rational, detached from contexts. This methodological, reflective and criticalknowledge is particularly important in a context of major global changes (Le Coze, 2020). In France, RA isframed by regulations which require operators to produce a safety case. The AZF accident (2001) changedthe regulations (Bachelot law of 2003) integrating the probability and greater consideration of the territories andtheir issues through consultation mechanisms. For the past ten years or so, there have been few developmentsor questioning of these post-AZF developments. However, RA are confronted with new changes, this time nolonger regulatory but digital and environmental. These changes tend to modify the threats, vulnerabilities,expectations and objectives of RA. The purpose of this text is to explore this new context. In the first part, criticalwork on RA is introduced in order to consider its limits. This clarification is followed by a presentation of initiativesthat develop new perspectives on RA then by a discussion