Policy Press

Disasters and Changes in Society and Politics

Contemporary Perspectives from Italy

Edited by Giuseppe Forino

Published

Jan 16, 2024

Page count

260 pages

ISBN

978-1529226751

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jan 16, 2024

Page count

260 pages

ISBN

978-1529226768

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jan 16, 2024

Page count

260 pages

ISBN

978-1529226768

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Disasters and Changes in Society and Politics

From earthquakes to oil spills, Italy is recurrently affected by different kinds of disasters. This book brings a critical perspective to post-disaster reconstruction and recovery, which can impact in both the short- and long- term upon society, politics and organizations.

It is often assumed that disaster-hit areas return to normality or even 'build back better' thanks to the interventions of experts. Giuseppe Forino considers the complexities of disaster recovery and the sometimes radical changes in individual and collective behaviours that persist following such events.

Bringing together the impacts of natural hazards (including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic), this edited book will stimulate debate on policy and practice in disaster recovery.

“This book questions conventional understandings of post-disaster action. Focusing on the Italian case, it offers a refreshing and very timely insight into the people’s dealings with the aftermath of disasters, which are often in gross contrast to Disaster Risk Reduction policies and intervention.” Fred Krüger, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Giuseppe Forino is Lecturer of Planning at the University of Salford.

Introduction – An Overview of the Book: Beyond Conventional Approaches to Disaster Recovery - Giuseppe Forino

Part 1: Making Sense of Post-disaster Changes in Society and Space

1. Risk Perception, Climate Change and Disasters of the Alpine Environments: The Mont de La Saxe Landslide - Elisabetta Dall’Ò

2. The Isolation of the Island: The Social Impasse in Ischia after the Earthquake and Tourism Crises (2017–22) - Giovanni Gugg

3. The Permanent Red Zone: An Ethnography of Spatial Practices in the Areas of the Italian Central Apennines Affected by Earthquakes (2016–17) - Enrico Mariani

4. Adaptive Disaster Memories: Voices from the Post-earthquake Irpinia (23 November 1980) - Gabriele Ivo Moscaritolo

Part 2: Post-disaster Politics

5. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Ladder of Power: Local Politics and Society in Italy - Pietro Saitta

6. Afar from Vesuvius but Still at Risk: The Unstoppable Urbanization of the Naples Volcano’s Yellow Zone - Giovanni Gugg

7. Local Communities as Strangers In-between: The Paradigm of Aleatory Politics in Post-earthquake Central Italy (2016–17) - Francesco Danesi della Sala

Part 3: Disasters and Conflicting Knowledges

8. Under the Smart City Paradigm: The Social and Spatial Transformation of L’Aquila City Centre - Isabella Tomassi

9. Expertise Versus Aspiration: Ethnography of Post-earthquake Reconstruction in Emilia (Italy) - Silvia Pitzalis

10. Local and Professional Knowledge in Post-disaster Reconstruction: Overlaps and Differences in Maierato

(Calabria, Southern Italy) - Francesco De Pascale and Loredana Antronico

Part 4: Organizations Adapting to Post-disaster Changes

11. Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Distance Learning Experience of the University of Milan-Bicocca - Sara Zizzari and Brunella Fiore

12. The National and Local Dimension of the Italian Civil Protection System: Evolution and Implementation of DRR Policies - Monia Del Pinto, Ksenia Chmutina, Lee Bosher and Garyfalia (Falli) Palaiologou

13. When the Unexpected Becomes Frequent - Mattia Bertin

14. Conclusions: The ‘Italian Case’ from a Global Disaster Perspective - Giuseppe Forino