Empowerment in the face of uncertainty

Abstract

Faced with the growing uncertainty that characterises contemporary societies, actors are developing strategies to deal with its most damaging effects. One of the ways of not feeling powerless in the face of events and shaken by them is to become empowered, that is to say, to appropriate power over oneself, which allows actors to act in order to deal with the climatic, geopolitical, political, socio-economic or cultural phenomena that they experience. In this sense, empowerment is a means, particularly for the most vulnerable communities, social groups and individuals, who are often highly exposed to risks linked to strong uncertainty, to take back control of their lives, at least partially. This is why the empowerment of women, ethnic minorities, young people, old people, inhabitants of disadvantaged neighbourhoods and abandoned territories constitutes a vector of emancipation and well-being by increasing their capacity for decision making and action.