Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

Disasters, Humanitarianism and Emergencies: A Politics of Uncertainty

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dc.creator Pelling, Mark
dc.creator Müller-Mahn, Detlef
dc.creator McCloskey, John
dc.date 2021-04-08T13:02:39Z
dc.date 2021-04-08T13:02:39Z
dc.date 2020-07-15
dc.date.accessioned 2022-05-26T08:44:51Z
dc.date.available 2022-05-26T08:44:51Z
dc.identifier Pelling, M.; Müller-Mahn, D. and McCloskey, J. (2020) ‘Disasters, Humanitarianism and Emergencies: A Politics of Uncertainty’, in I. Scoones and A. Stirling (eds), The Politics of Uncertainty: Challenges of Transformation pp 127-140 (1st ed.), Routledge
dc.identifier 9781003023845
dc.identifier https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/16534
dc.identifier https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003023845-9/disasters-humanitarianism-emergencies-mark-pelling-detlef-m%C3%BCller-mahn-john-mccloskey?context=ubx&refId=8a8aaf6f-ea47-4095-bf51-06bd715015d5
dc.identifier 10.4324/9781003023845
dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/198366
dc.description Long-standing research on disaster risk has tended to focus on physical science and directly connected and observable cause and effect between hazard and impact. More recently, work has extended into questions of complex causation and social construction, where cause and effect are disarticulated over space and time and coloured by an observer’s viewpoint and perception. This has drawn in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, including recognition of local or traditional knowledge. The chapter explores this transition and the ways in which the search for a more complete understanding of risk production and human action has brought both increased understanding and greater uncertainty to those who seek to use science for action. By drawing together viewpoints from social and physical science perspectives the chapter identifies four fundamental properties of knowledge production in the context of disaster risk and international development: (1) uncertainty is prevalent throughout disaster research; (2) as knowledge has grown, so awareness of the uncertainties that constrain this knowledge has also grown; (3) uncertainties are likely to remain into the future and so must be embraced; and (4) managing the presentation of uncertainty is a challenge for scientists working with policy-makers and the public, who look to science to reduce uncertainty.
dc.language en
dc.publisher Routledge
dc.rights http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.rights © 2020 selection and editorial matter, Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling; individual chapters, the contributors
dc.subject Politics and Power
dc.title Disasters, Humanitarianism and Emergencies: A Politics of Uncertainty
dc.type Book chapter


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