The Politics of Disaster Determinants, Consequences, and Responses
Brief Overview Class Introduction About The Instructor About This Course Politics & Disasters Course Requirements Questions & Discussion
Class Introductions
About the Instructor David A. Shirk, Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations
David A. Shirk, Ph.D Professor, Political Science Director, Justice in Mexico Project Global Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center Research Interests: Rule of Law & Security, Economic Development, Governance and Policy, Mexico & U.S.- Mexico Relations Regular Courses: Introduction to Political Science, International Political Economy, Trans-National Crime & Terrorism, Mexican Politics, Politics of Immigration, & U.S. Immigration Policy
About this Course Understanding Disasters
Why a Course on Disasters Every year, millions of people are affected by unintentional and often unexpected catastrophic events A topic of seemingly increasing relevance and impact A topic with numerous political links and implications A topic that requires analysis from multiple disciplines (medicine, hard sciences, social sciences, policy) A topic with numerous potential professional and personal applications A topic of enormous human, economic, and environmental consequence
2010 Chile Earthquake 525 people killed
2010 Haiti Earthquake 159,000 people killed
2011, Tohoku Earthquake, Japan 15,883 people killed
2012, Superstorm Sandy, U.S.A 286 people killed
2013, Haiyan Typhoon, Phillippines 6,155 people killed
2014, Polar Vortex, North America/Europe 13 people killed
A Topic of Local Interest Recent Disasters in Southern California/Baja California 1994, Northridge Earthquake, Los Angeles 2007, Wildfires San Diego, San Diego 2009, U.S.-Mexico H1N1 Outbreak, U.S.A and Mexico 2010 Mexicali Earthquake, Mexicali 2013, Scenic Highway Collapse, Tijuana-Ensenada
Politics and Disasters The Role of Political Scientists and Policy Analysts
Taking A Political Perspective on Disaster What is the value of a political perspective on the problem of disaster? How does politics contribute to or mitigate disaster? What can political scientists & policy analysts contribute to the study of disaster?
The Study of Politics & Policy Why Should Political Scientist & Political Analysts Study Disaster? Political scientists and policy analysts take a particular approach to the study of the world we live in, emphasizing the need for rigorous, empiricallybased, and analyticallysound assessments and prescriptions for addressing problems in the real world.
The Politics of Decision Why Political Scientist & Political Analysts Study Disaster The political behavior and policy decisions made by government officials and ordinary people can have enormous implications for the likelihood, scope, and repercussions of a disaster.
The Institutional and Procedural Dilemmas Why Political Scientist & Political Analysts Study Disaster Disasters often pay little heed to political boundaries, agency mandates & jurisdictions, and procurement practices, presenting major policy challenges for officials, victims, and relief efforts.
The Consequences for Politics Why Political Scientist & Political Analysts Study Disaster A disaster can have enormous human, fiscal, and even electoral implications that can change the course of politics and future policies for years to come.
Course Requirements
Course Readings Sheri Fink Five Days at Memorial
Course Readings Sonali Deraniyagala Wave
Course Readings Paul Farmer Haiti: After the Earthquake
Course Requirements Participation (10 points): Students will be evaluated on the frequency and quality of contributions to in-class discussions. Disaster Summary (10 points): Students will contribute one disaster summary for the course website. Presentation (10 points): Each student will make one 15-minute, in-class presentation on a specific disaster and the governmental and societal responses that followed. Bush v. Obama Group Exercise (15 points): Students will divide into two separate teams to examine the occurrence and responses to disaster under the Bush and Obama administrations. Midterm Exam (25 points): Multiple choice, fill in the blank, short identification, and essay questions. Final Exam (30 points): Multiple choice, fill in the blank, short identification, and essay questions.
Students Currently Enrolled Students Listed Here Are Formally Registered in the Course (as of 1/28/14)?? Cyclone Nargis Chernobyl Ethiopia Famine SF Quake Mexico Quake Meiji Quake Chris Allison Berkley Brown Chris Constantinou Kip Dean Gabriela Everett Dominic Galleno Kanto Quake Jeffrey Hallock? Katrina Indonesia Tsunami Campeche Meteor Y2K Johnstown Flood Hurricane Sandy Pompey Quake Brandon HerbeckRobert Jackowski Patrick Kaufer Armando Leyva Nataly Ortega Jason Parrott Dominic Pera Challenger Pakistan Quake Japan Tsunami H1N1 Flu San Diego Fire Daniela Rocha Ian Rodgers Nancy Schneider Nicole Shook Melanie Sitzer
Questions & Discussion Putting All the Pieces Together
Defining Disaster Concepts and Typologies of Natural Hazards and Catastrophic Events