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Disaster Vulnerability

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The Palgrave Handbook of Unconventional Risk Transfer

Abstract

The concept of vulnerability is essential when aiming to understand the societal construction of disasters. However, definitions and concepts vary between different research fields and disciplines. The concept of vulnerability can explain why similar hazards and extreme events, such as severe earthquakes, storms or floods, can have quite different adverse consequences for different communities, societies and infrastructures exposed and impacted. Examining differential vulnerabilities within disaster risks is key when aiming to develop strategies for disaster risk management and adaptation to extreme events. The discourse of disaster vulnerability has not developed within a very coordinated way; rather, vulnerability has emerged within different schools of thought, and solely in the past two decades, major integration and cross-coordination have taken place. This chapter outlines selected concepts and definitions of vulnerability and examines the nexus between vulnerability and urbanisation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stuttgart University, Stuttgart, Germany

    Joern Birkmann, Linda Sorg & Torsten Welle

Authors
  1. Joern Birkmann
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  2. Linda Sorg
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  3. Torsten Welle
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Economics and Management, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Maurizio Pompella

  2. Tobin College of Business, St. John’s University, New York, New York, USA

    Nicos A Scordis

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Birkmann, J., Sorg, L., Welle, T. (2017). Disaster Vulnerability. In: Pompella, M., Scordis, N. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Unconventional Risk Transfer. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59297-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59297-8_11

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