Flood risk perception and communication within risk management in different cultural contexts: a comparative study between Wuhan, China, and Cologne, Germany.

This PhD dissertation investigates flood risk perception and communication amongst key institutional stakeholders involved in flood risk management in the different cultural settings of China and Germany. Using qualitative social research methods, this study aims at: first, understanding the discrepancies of risk perceptions between different actors; second, identifying flood risk communication features among flood risk management organizational units and between risk management and the general public; third, comparing the perception and communication characteristics in different cultural contexts; and finally, analysing how differences are embedded in culture and exploring the potential of cross cultural transferability of good practices and its implementation with consideration of cultural diversity.