Extreme events and disasters : a window of opportunity for change? : analysis of organizational, institutional and political changes, formal and informal responses after mega-disasters

Birkmann, Joern, Buckle, Philip, Jaeger, Jill, Pelling, Mark, Setiadi, Neysa J., Garschagen, Matthias, Fernando, Nishara and Kropp, Jürgen, (2010). Extreme events and disasters : a window of opportunity for change? : analysis of organizational, institutional and political changes, formal and informal responses after mega-disasters. Natural Hazards, 55(3), 637-655

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Birkmann, Joern
    Buckle, Philip
    Jaeger, Jill
    Pelling, Mark
    Setiadi, Neysa J.
    Garschagen, Matthias
    Fernando, Nishara
    Kropp, Jürgen
    Title Extreme events and disasters : a window of opportunity for change? : analysis of organizational, institutional and political changes, formal and informal responses after mega-disasters
    Appearing in Natural Hazards
    Volume 55
    Issue No. 3
    Publication Date 2010-12
    Place of Publication Dordrecht
    Publisher Springer
    Start page 637
    End page 655
    Language eng
    Abstract Disaster associated with natural hazards can lead to important changes—positive or negative—in socio-ecological systems. When disasters occur, much attention is given to the direct disaster impacts as well as relief and recovery operations. Although this focus is important, it is noteworthy that there has been little research on the characteristics and progress of change induced by disasters. Change, as distinct from impacts, encompasses formal and informal responses to disaster events and their direct and indirect impacts. While smaller disasters do not often lead to significant changes in societies and organizational structures, major disasters have the potential to change dominant ways of thinking and acting. Against this background, the article presents an analytical framework for distinguishing change from disaster impacts. Drawing from research in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, formal and informal changes after the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 are examined and discussed against the background of the conceptual framework. The changes examined range from the commencement of the peace process in Aceh, Indonesia, to organizational and legal reforms in Sri Lanka. The article concludes that change-making processes after disasters need to be understood more in depth in order to derive important strategic policy and methodological lessons learned for the future, particularly in view of the increasing complexity and uncertainty in decision making due to climate change.
    Copyright Holder Springer
    Copyright Year 2010
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    DOI 10.1007/s11069-008-9319-2
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    Created: Thu, 30 Apr 2015, 12:48:18 JST