Abstract

Sociology, being the science of social relations, has always been reluctant to enphasize conflicts. This may be politically a prudent stance but may also lead to undestimate the relevance and/or seriousness of conflict as a source of both social change and/or crisis. In _La sicurezza e la sua ombra_ the Author argues that in order to curb a perception and the opportunistic use of it by some actors we have to identify the sources not to blame the effects. As to the sources it is crucial to distinguish among _danger_ ; _risk_ ; _threat _. The distinction is not only analytical but implies paramount differences in policy choices.