Towards a critical geography of disaster recovery politics: Perspectives on crisis and hope

Abstract

As disasters increasingly affect a greater proportion of the population with growing strength and frequency it is becoming even more important to comprehend how recovery from these events is mediated and managed by society. Emerging from several decades of concerted work on the social determinants of disaster, vulnerability and risk, research is now being established that underlies the importance of the politics and power in shaping the processes and outcomes of disaster recovery. In particular, there is a need to situate the central role of neoliberal capitalism in shaping the values and practices of reconstruction and recovery, particularly through engagements with crisis politics. At the same time, disasters may open up space for contestation and resistance that allows for alternative and transformative forms of recovery politics. In this paper I draw on geographies of crisis and hope to frame a theoretical perspective that encapsulates both the capitalist dynamics of disaster recovery and the radical potential of post capitalist politics for facilitating transformative action at the community scale.

Volcanoes on borders: a scientific and (geo)political challenge

“…This has led to a focus in geography on Bsituated^contexts rather than scales (Haraway 1988). This paper does not seek to discuss this ontological issue in detail but points out that in constructing regional or international networks, it is important to be conscious of the potential for misuse of power, resources or expertise (Blackburn 2014;Cretney 2017;Donovan 2016), either wittingly or otherwise, to oppress the vulnerable at local levels (Giordano et al 2016;Newhall et al 1999). This is particularly critical in crossborder work, because scientists and officials may encounter cultural differences that inhibit their awareness of social issues.…”

What Does Transformation Look Like? Post-Disaster Politics and the Case for Progressive Rehabilitation

“…The case study examines the outcomes of disaster relief and recovery interventions by NGOs following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, responding to the suggestion in disasters scholarship that disasters can open a 'window of opportunity' for transformation [57]. This research asks what role there is for post-disaster community-based NGO interventions in deliberate transformation (if at all), and how transformation from the bottom-up might best be supported-thickening understanding of what Cretney [58] terms the "politics of hope and possibility" (p. 4) in the post-disaster space.…”

A proposal for unpacking the politics of knowledge production in disaster reduction education

“…Resilience is a term increasingly used by developed states that intervene with aid in developing states (Pugh, ). Resilience discourses and practices—especially in the international community—epitomize a de‐politicized view of the world (Brown, ; Cretney, ; Pugh, ). As a discourse of development, resilience uses logics from daily life to manage populations in the aftermath or (ongoing) potentiality of disasters (Braun, ; Grove, ; Wilson, ).…”

“…Resilience is a term increasingly used by developed states that intervene with aid in developing states (Pugh, 2014). Resilience discourses and practices-especially in the international community-epitomize a de-politicized view of the world (Brown, 2013;Cretney, 2017;Pugh, 2014).…”

“…Power relations between actors involved in DRR need to be further articulated to demonstrate inequalities among stakeholders (Brown, 2013;Donovan, 2016). Articulating these relations can provide clarity that will contribute suggestions for more equitable approaches to DRE to speak to the opportunities that lie in how communities engage with disasters (Cretney, 2017;Pelling & Dill, 2010).…”