Skip to main content
Log in

Urban disasters and megacities in a Risk society

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cities like London, New York and Los Angeles possess complex urban environments that, despite their technological sophistication, present their citizens with a multiplicity of risks. This paper presents a discussion of the effects of physical and social trends on the creation of risk and vulnerability to hazard in such cities. The interplay between physical hazards and perceived risks in late modern, or “Risk”, urban societies is considered, and the impact of this process on adjustment to hazard.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akimoto, R.: Disaster and urban community. In: Dynes, R.; De Marchi, B.; Pelanda, C. (eds.), Sociology of Disasters. Franco Angeli, Milan 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U.: Risk Society. Sage, London 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U.; Giddens, A.; Lash, S.: Reflexive Modernisation: Politics, Tradition and Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order. Polity, Cambridge 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, I.; Kates, R.; White, G.: The Environment as Hazard. Oxford University Press, New York 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, M.: Risk Acceptability According to the Social Sciences. Routledge, London 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.: City of Quartz. Vintage, London 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, M.: Wildavsky, A.: Risk and Culture. University of California Press, Berkeley 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Financial Times: Fears of fires at large stores. (23rd September 1994a)

  • Financial Times: Flood cover for London “set to end”. (4th November 1994b)

  • Giddens, A.: The Consequences of Modernity. Polity, Cambridge 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, A.: Modernity and Self-Identity. Polity, Cambridge 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadfield, P.: Sixty Seconds that will Change the World. Sidgwick & Jackson, London 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, D.: Introduction to S. Zukin. Loft Living Radius, London 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, D.: The Urban Experience. Blackwell, Oxford 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones,T.: Acts of God?: An Investigation into Disasters. EPICENTRE, London 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: The London Fire Cover Review: A Survey of Some Key Policy Issues. EPICENTRE, London 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: Patterns of risk and patterns of vulnerability. In: Amendola, A.; De Marchi, B. (eds.), Workshop on Emergency Management. EUR 14953 EN European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.; Fortune, J.; Peters, G.: Vulnerable systems, failure and disaster. In: Stowell, F.; West, D.; Howells, J. (eds.), Systems Science Addressing Global Issues. Plenum, New York 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.; Jones, D. K. C.: Communicating risks to reduce vulnerability. In: Merriman, P.; Browitt, C. (eds.), Natural Disasters: Protecting Vulnerable Communities. Thomas Telford, London 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: Planning and coordinating urban emergency management: Some reflections on New York City and London. In: Horlick-Jones, T. (1994a) op cit

  • Horlick-Jones, T. (ed.): New York City and Urban Emergency Management. Special issue of Disaster Management 6, 3 (1994a)

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: Prospects for a coherent approach to civil protection in Europe. In: Horlick-Jones, T.; Amendola, A.; Casale, R. (eds.), Natural Risk and Civil Protection E&FN Spon, London 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: Modern disasters as outrage and betrayal. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters (in press, a).

  • Horlick-Jones, T.: The avoidance of blame. In: Jones, D. K. C.; Hood, C.; Pidgeon, N. (eds.), Accident and Design UCL Press, London in press, b)

  • Irwin, A.; Dale, A.; Smith, D.: Science and Hell's kitchen: the local understanding of hazard issues. In: Irwin, A.; Wynne, B. (eds.), Misunderstanding Science: Making Sense of Science and Technology within Everyday Life. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (forthcoming)

  • Kirby, A.: Towards a new risk analysis. In: Kirby (ed.), Nothing to Fear: Risk and Hazards in American Society. University of Arizona Press, Tucson 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krimsky, S.; Golding, D. (eds.): Social Theories of Risk. Praeger, Westport 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lash, S.; Urry, J.: Economies of Signs and Space. Sage, London 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liverman, D.: The vulnerability of urban areas to technological risks. Cities 142–147 (1986)

  • New Statesman & Society: City politti. A collection of articles on the metropolis of tomorrow. (30th September 1988)

  • Parker, D.: Hazard in the London Megacity. Inaugural Professorial lecture delivered on 12th October, Middlesex University, Enfield, London 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrow, C.: Normal Accidents. Basic Books, New York 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pidgeon, N. et al.: Risk perception. Royal Society Study Group Risk: Analysis, Perception and Management. Royal Society, London 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, U. et al.: Complexity in Urban Crisis Management. James and James, London 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassen, S.: The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solway, L.: Urban developments and megacities: Vulnerability to natural disasters. In: Horlick-Jones (1994a) op cit

  • Sylves, R.; Pavlak,T.: The Big Apple and disaster planning: How New York City manages major emergencies. In: Sylves, R.; Waugh, W. (eds.), Cities and Disasters. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sylves, R.; Pavlak, T.: World Trade Center disaster: A normal accident? In: Horlick-Jones (1994a) op cit

  • Turner, B. A.: Man-Made Disasters. Wykeham. London 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, L.; Paterson, P.: The political amplification of risk: media coverage of disasters and hazards. In: Handmer, J.; Penning- Rowsell, E. (eds.), Hazards and the Communication of Risk. Gower Technical, Aldershot 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne, B.: Unruly technology: Practical rules, impractical discourses and public understanding. Social Studies of Science 18, 147–167 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yearley, S.: Social movements and environmental change. In: Redclift, M.; Benton, T. (eds.): Social Theory and the Global Environment. Routledge, London 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, R.; Gerrard, M.: Hazardous substance emergencies in New York City. In: Horlick-Jones (1994a) op cit

  • Zukin, S.: Postmodern urban landscapes: mapping culture and power. In: Lash, S.; Friedman, J. (eds.), Modernity and Identity. Blackwell, Oxford 1992.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Horlick-Jones, T. Urban disasters and megacities in a Risk society. GeoJournal 37, 329–334 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00814013

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00814013

Keywords

Navigation