Summary
LOWRISK aimed at delving into the historical management of fire in Spanish society, with a specific focus on the reform of civil liability and its influence on fire regulation throughout the history of the Spanish Monarchy. The project was distinguished by its extensive geographical perspective, encompassing Iberian and American territories, and by its extensive chronological range, covering from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
Issue Addressed by LOWRISK
The central issue focused on the historical discipline of fire management in Spanish society. The objective was to understand the evolution of this discipline and how it was influenced by changes in the concepts and practices of civil liability. Specifically, the investigation delved into the transition from considering unintentional fires as civil matters to categorizing them as crimes.
Importance for Society
The relevance of LOWRISK extends to multiple dimensions. Firstly, this project shed light on how legal and cultural factors have influenced society’s attitudes and behaviours regarding fire. This understanding is fundamental in informing modern fire prevention policies and risk reduction strategies. Additionally, LOWRISK underscored the significance of historical memory in risk perception, demonstrating how it can contribute to reducing risk construction and, ultimately, making society less vulnerable to hazards.
Overall Objectives
LOWRISK set a series of overall objectives, each contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the issue:
O1 To specialize in the synchronic and diachronic comparison of normative translation. This objective involved meticulous research and analysis of the evolution of legal norm in different cultural contexts over time. The emphasis was on identifying global trends and common patterns in legislation and legal practices.
O2 To fill an historiographical gap, studying as in the past the reform of civil liability played a decisive role in raising awareness of the society towards a more prudent use of fire and in the consequent reduction of the fire risk.
O3 To propose a methodology allowing the study of civil liability and its role in fire risk reduction in other cultural contexts, not considered by this research, both European and non-European.
O4 To enclose academic discourses of History and Law.
O5 To demonstrate to society the role that civil liability reform can play in reducing risks.
