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