Legal status of individuals as subjects of social risk management

Introduction: the article analyzes current legislation of Russia and some foreign countries as well as the views of Russian and foreign scholars on the legal status of individuals as subjects of the social security legal relations in the context of the social risk management (SRM) conceptual framework. Purpose and objectives: based on the modern ideas of social risks, to study the status of individuals as actors within the SRM system having specific rights and responsibilities. Methods: analysis and synthesis of scientific and legal information, historical and comparative methods. Results: today social security is considered a vital part of the SRM system. Having analyzed the specific features and dynamics of social risks, the authors conclude that to some considerable degree these risks are subjective in nature, which should determine a more active role of individuals. The article analyzes not only the legal personality of individuals in the social security legal relations but also - in a broader context - their agency in the SRM system. The authors provide examples of legislative regulation in some foreign countries: the French Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the United States of America. Different models of the individuals ’ participation in the SRM system are presented. Based on the extent of different SRM subjects ’ involvement and the distribution of the responsibility for the protection against social risks among them, the authors identify paternalistic, market-based (liberal), mixed (complex), and transitional models. Based on the extent of the individual’s interest in the protection against social risks and their readiness for taking actions in this sphere, the authors distinguish active and passive SRM models (with the latter one including indifferent and parasitical models). Conclusions: the paper offers a new approach to the understanding of social risks and protection against these (including through social security), and also to the role of individuals as subjects of social risk management.