Abstract
Natural and man-made disasters are a regular part of the human experience on the planet, though in this particular era certain natural disasters (e.g., flooding, wildfires, and excessive heat) seem to be more frequent and intense. An often overlooked issue in disaster management and recovery is the property rights regime that underlies human settlement. Whether land is privately, publicly, commonly, tribally, formally, or informally claimed (or “owned” in some other way) makes a tremendous difference in the ability of individuals, NGOs, and governments to manage disaster recovery.
This contribution examines the current global debate over the right to property in the context of an ever-increasing urban population. In particular, claims for increased Western-style private property as a vehicle for increased social stability and increased wealth are scrutinized in the context of their compatibility with sustainable disaster recovery. Research suggests that it is the institutions that support and legitimate property that appear more important than the actual form of property rights itself. The outcome of this examination suggests policy directions for property’s form and civic and public sector action to achieve a form compatible with disaster recovery.
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Jacobs, H.M. (2023). Property Rights for Disaster Recovery. In: Singh, A. (eds) International Handbook of Disaster Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8388-7_3
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