Social Factors of Emergence of Institutionalized Risk Environments

An increasing amount of publications in the sphere of risk-taking signify concern for the risk-society concept. While the debate over risk continues, many issues remain unresolved. Risk-taking behavior is considered relevant to sports and even more so to “alternative” or “extreme” sports. How is edgework even possible in modern societies focused on safety? Activities potentially deadly and harmful in cases of incompetent performance or gear malfunction form the environment of extreme sports. There risk-taking is more important than the competition. The overall goal of the study is to define what social factors form institutionalized risk environments. The project is intended to cover some major issues pertaining to the sphere of risk taking drawing on the example of Russian medieval historical reenactment. The work is based on the concept of edgework as extreme and skill-requiring dangerous activities.