risk

In the human and social sciences, the pervasiveness of the notion of disaster is an indication that a true paradigm is developing, which seeks to replace the paradigm of risk on which the modern project was constructed. Within that paradigm, man – far from being the master of nature or of the transformations he forces upon it – is weak, vulnerable and fallible. Is man a ‘being for disaster?

The more disasters there are, the less we seem able to learn from them. Our faith in progress and our concern for economic efficiency make it clear that, contrary to postmodernist claims, we have not escaped from the illusions of modernity.

How should we understand and account for disasters? Is a disaster simply a risk that has become a reality? Gaëlle Clavandier makes a case for clearly distinguishing between these two concepts, arguing that instead of understanding disasters under the rubric of risk, they actually require a new social science paradigm.

Extreme conditions during disasters make it impossible to provide the individual medical care that victims require. It is sometimes necessary to make choices, to prioritize need, and sometimes even to leave victims to die. Following Sheri Fink’s investigations in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Frédérique Leichter-Flack shows how it is necessary to develop ethical preparation for disasters.