Introduction: Sociology of Disasters

Abstract

The interest that sociologists have taken in natural and human-induced disasters goes back many decades and, therefore, is not a response to increasing frequency and intensity of disaster events in recent decades due to climate change and environmental pollution. Yet, their focus has been quite specific, concentrating on the impact of disasters on the long-established patterns of social and cultural life of people, including aspects of the emergence and short- and long-term consequences of major disaster events in time and space. In this section of the handbook, we bring together nine chapters dealing with a variety of disaster situations in a number of countries. The disasters concerned are related to diverse situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic, housing develop­ment, and a confluence of multiple disasters in one case. The social, economic, and cultural effects of disasters and short-term and long-term mitigation of their impacts have been the focus of authors of the above chapters. Their analyses, conclusions, and recommendations not only contribute to our understanding of the diverse problems that the disasters have given rise to and issues involved in the processes of disaster management but also indicate how governments and relevant institutions can take policy and intervention measures to reduce disaster risks and mitigate diverse adverse impacts on the lives of the affected people. The areas that the authors have investigated are food security, domestic violence, neglect of marginalized groups, Covid-19 pandemic and education, role of indigenous knowledge, community mobilization, and social and cultural restoration. Diversity of issues and approaches covered shows the multi­disciplinary character of research and interventions.