Modes of network governance in disaster relief: The case of the Bangkok flood relief, 2011

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to map and explore network governance in a disaster relief situation. The case of the Bangkok Th ailand flood relief of 2011 was used to examine network governance in four relief activities: food activities, relief items activities, medical service activities, and rescue activities. Design/methodology/approach. We used multimethod research combining Social Network Analyses (SNAs) and in-depth interviews with 16 organizations and 29 key informants representing state organizations, the private sector, Local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and the social sector involved in the relief activities of the Bangkok flood relief in 2011. Finding. We found contrasting modes of network governance in the four Bangkok flood relief activities. The networks within food and relief items activities were more connected, with the local NGOs, university, military and voluntary sectors being the key stakeholders, while the networks within medical services and rescue activities were segregated representing specialization roles within state organizations, the private sector, local NGOs and social sectors in the medical and rescue activities. Practical implications. The findings highlight the importance of identifying patterns of network governance during disaster reliefs at it can help policy makers in formulating an eff ective disaster reliefs management. Originality/value. This paper for the first time presents the pattern of network governance in the context of disaster relief activities using Bangkok flood relief 2011 as a case study.