Public policy and disaster justice

Abstract

Issues of unequal vulnerability to disasters, and uneven access to assistance and decision making, are core challenges in disaster policy, but not generally explored from a justice perspective. This chapter considers justice through six standard lenses of public policy: (1) whether justice-relevant decisions are a matter for public policy or more value-rich politics; (2) if the former, where in the policy process they can be attended to; (3) which entity has responsibility over the matter; (4) in addition to formal responsibilities, what actors outside of government contribute to justice or injustices; (5) whether justice is a matter of disaster policy, or another policy sector; and (6) whether enhancement of existing policies can provide remedy, or new mechanisms are needed.