Disaster Culture: Knowledge and Uncertainty in the Wake of Human and Environmental Catastrophe

Disaster Culture: Knowledge and Uncertainty in the Wake of Human and Environmental Catastrophe
ISBN-10
1315430355
ISBN-13
9781315430355
Category
Social Science
Pages
311
Language
English
Published
2016-06-03
Publisher
Routledge
Author
Gregory Button

Description

When disaster strikes, a ritual unfolds: a flood of experts, bureaucrats, and analysts rush to the scene; personal tragedies are played out in a barrage of media coverage; on the ground, confusion and uncertainty reign. In this major comparative study, Gregory Button draws on three decades of research on the most infamous human and environmental calamities to break new ground in our understanding of these moments of chaos. He explains how corporations, state agencies, social advocacy organizations, and other actors attempt to control disaster narratives, adopting public relations strategies that may either downplay or amplify a sense of uncertainty in order to advance political and policy goals. Importantly, he shows that disasters are not isolated events, offering a holistic account of the political dynamics of uncertainty in times of calamity.

Other editions

Similar books