sociology of disaster -...
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SOCIOLOGY
OF DISASTER a brief introduction
Sulfikar amir
nanyang technological universitY
NatCatSERVICE
Loss events worldwide 2014 Geographical overview
Loss events
Selection of catastrophes Overall losses ≥ US$ 1,500m
Geophysical events (Earthquake, tsunami, volcanic activity)
Meteorological events (Tropical storm, extratropical storm,
convective storm, local storm)
Hydrological events (Flood, mass movement)
Climatological events (Extreme temperature, drought, wildfire)
© 2015 Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE – As at January 2015
Flash floods USA,11–13 Aug
Typhoon Kalmaegi China, Philippines, Vietnam,
12–20 Sep
Hurricane Odile Mexico, 11–17 Sep
Source: Munich Re, NatCatSERVICE, 2015
Winter damage USA, Canada, 5–8 Jan
Floods United Kingdom,
Dec 2013–Feb 2014
Floods Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Serbia, Croatia, Romania,
13–30 May
Drought USA, 2014
Severe storms France, Belgium,
Germany, 7–10 Jun
Winter damage Japan, 7–16 Feb
Severe storms USA, 2–4 Apr
980 Loss events
Severe storms USA, 3–5 Jun
Floods India, Pakistan,
3–15 Sep Earthquake China, 3 Aug
Typhoon Rammasun China, Philippines, Vietnam, 11–22 Jul
Severe storms USA, 18–23 May
Severe storms USA, 27 Apr–1 May
Drought Brazil, 2014
Cyclone Hudhud India, 11–
13 Oct
What is a disaster ?
Is a disaster a natural
or social phenomenon?
Forces of Nature
Thermodynamics Law
Energy released transforms
into another energy
Nature is highly dynamic:
volcano eruption, earthquake,
tsunami, hurricane, etc
Disaster and History
Disaster as part of human history
Disaster as described in legends and
myths
The existence of supernatural
power and metaphysical force.
Divine Interpretation of
Disaster
Fatalistic attitude prevailed in early
societies
Attributing negative occurrences to
the acts of the divine
Prayers, offerings, and rituals as
means to influence the supernatural
Halley’s Comet apparition as portent of Harold II’s death at the Battle of Hasting, 1066
The Bayeux Tapestry: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Bayeux_Tapestry_scene32_Halley_comet.jpg/330px-
Bayeux_Tapestry_scene32_Halley_comet.jpg
Disaster and Religion
Disasters are regarded special
providences sent directly from God
to punish sinners.
The role of disaster in religion: to
inculcate piety and devotion.
Lisbon earthquake and tsunami, November 1, 1775 (All Saints Day)
The Modern Science Era
Use of reason to explain the occurrence of disaster Secularization of disaster
Scientific epistemology aimed to uncover forces behind disaster events
Dude, disasters are accidental
or natural events.
Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/mh370-mh17-tragedies-were-caused-due-un-islamic-behaviours-like-serving-alcohol-exposing-612933
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/13/haiti.pat.robertson/index.html
Disaster is marked by disruption on social order and relations
caused by external shocks.
Disaster is a social event that causes damages and loss on
human beings.
Disaster as
social and cultural
phenomenon
Will of God or human intervention? Impact is natural
Cause is man-made
How to study disaster
sociologically?
RISK DISASTER
The probable
Calculation
Perception
Prediction
Hazard
The actual
Result
Realization
Outcome
Damage