Decision-making power in reflexive modernity is through "authoritarian-technocracy" (Beck 1995 and Ekberg 358) and this threatens the democratic process because decisions"made by scientists "threaten democracy because they are made by unelected experts, without consultation in the public sphere and without the consent of citizens (Ekberg 358). There is a consensus that "technological progress translates into social progress" (Eberg 358-9). This leaves the goals of 16th century scientific revolution fulfilled but not the 18th century democratic revolutions (Ekberg 358).
Democratization of Science
Beck (1996) advocates democratizing science which means there should be some type of group which includes both scientists and citizens which allows debate between the parties so that so called experts aren't the ones in charge of making society's choices. (Ekberg 359). According to Ekberg's analysis, this is related to Habermas's (1996) deliberative democracy emphasizing communicative action and Gidden's (1994) dialogic democracy which is reflexive and encourages communication and debate and his idea of generative politics which helps provide a framework for a larger society (1994, 15).
References:
Beck, Ulrich. Ecological Politics in an Age of Risk. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995.
Beck, U. The Reinvention of Politics: Rethinking Modernity in the Global Social Order. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1996.
Ekberg, Merryn. "The Parameters of the Risk Society: A Review and Exploration." Current Sociology 55: 343-366. Web. 21 July 2014.
Giddens, Anthony.Beyond Left and Right: The Future of Radical Politics. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1994.
Habermas, Jurgen. Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1996.