Although natural disasters are often presented as rare and unexpected tragedies, the reality is that they occur more frequently, affect more people and cause higher economic damages than ever before. Starting from this data, the module explores disasters from different theoretical perspectives and will introduce you to disaster terminology, the different natural hazards and major trends in the exploration of disaster cycles. With a specific focus on built environment and urban areas, the module assesses patterns of vulnerability and how these are spatially and socially distributed. It also analyses the potential for effective vulnerability reduction and resilience building involving a variety of stakeholders at a range of scales. Throughout, there is a focus on the implications for vulnerable groups within societies, and their coping capacities.

Objective

The module provides a detailed examination and structured understanding of Disaster Studies and Disaster Risk Reduction, with a specific reference to urban areas. It also provides an opportunity for you to develop a common vocabulary and set of concepts with which to analyse, understand and explain disasters, vulnerabilities and risks and conceptually-related analytical methods of risks and vulnerabilities

Learning Outcomes:

Explain major trends in disaster studies and their relation to urban areas in the Global South Explain the distribution of disaster vulnerability at different scales and between different social groups;

Discuss the role of built urban environment in the different phases of disaster;

Identify the implications of Disaster Risk Reduction in the cities of the Global South;

Analyse the role of international frameworks and international actors in shaping the agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction and their impact at local urban level.

Understand the roles for local organisations and urban authorities in facilitating effective Disaster Risk Reduction;

Assess the potential for local vulnerability reduction in cities of the Global South;

Discuss the potential of participatory methods in vulnerability analysis and Disaster Risk Reduction

processes;

Explore the linkages between Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, in a coherent framework that is locally driven and rooted in the particulars of each local economic, social, political and ecological context.

Related modules

DEVP0001 (Post Disaster Recovery: policies, practices and alternatives) which focuses on the critical assessment of the ways in which actors are engaged in post disaster recovery processes through interactions of the physical environment, policy frameworks, governance, and community actions;
 DEVP0023 (Adapting Cities to Climate Change in the Global South) explores the specific impacts of climate change in urban areas, the needed adaptation strategies and the actors whose engagement is needed for effective adaptation