Alternatives for sustained disaster risk reduction: A re-assessment.

Area of Science:

• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Social Sciences
• Environmental Studies

Background:

• A 2010 publication critiqued the hazard-centered approach in Francophone disaster studies, advocating for a vulnerability focus.
• This critique contrasted with the established vulnerability paradigm in Anglophone disaster literature.
• The study investigates the impact of this 2010 critique on subsequent Francophone disaster research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the adoption of the vulnerability paradigm in Francophone disaster literature.
• To evaluate the temporal lag in adopting vulnerability-focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) in French-language research.
• To propose future directions for sustained and inclusive DRR.

Main Methods:

• Bibliographic analysis of Francophone disaster literature.
• Comparative analysis with Anglophone, Spanish-language, and Asian disaster literature.
• Examination of research trends and theoretical shifts over twelve years.

Main Results:

• The shift towards a vulnerability paradigm in Francophone literature has occurred to some extent but lagged significantly.
• The adoption of vulnerability-focused DRR was slower in French compared to Spanish and Asian contexts.
• A need for re-evaluating disaster research practices, including scope, methodology, and beneficiaries, is identified.

Conclusions:

• Future sustained disaster risk reduction (DRR) requires embracing diverse local ontologies and epistemologies.
• Integrating local populations as co-researchers through participatory methods is crucial.
• Empowering local Francophone researchers is essential for leading relevant disaster research and DRR initiatives.