Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters
Disaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to dis...
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Istanbul University Press
2024-12-01
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| Series: | İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi |
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| Online Access: | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/64DED6F6D81843CAA20073CB7C274755 |
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| author | Fatma Levent Temmuz Gönç Şavran |
| author_facet | Fatma Levent Temmuz Gönç Şavran |
| author_sort | Fatma Levent |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Disaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to discuss these claims and to show how the interpretations, meanings, and connotations associated with disasters direct social dynamics from the perspective of critical sociology. The study highlights how concepts are constructed within discourses and used to construct certain truths, how definitions of disaster have changed based on the hazards paradigm, the vulnerability paradigm, and critical approaches, and discusses the risks and conceptual confusion that can be created by using the concept of “natural disaster”. In essence, the blaming of nature solely for disasters removes human influence from the equation and promotes the idea that humans are at war with nature. This reinforces the belief that human beings will fail in the face of nature no matter what they do, but it also prepares the ground for the implementation of disaster policies and laws that favour the interests of one group while ignoring others. The concepts employed contribute to the reinforcement of this ground, even if the individuals using them are unaware of it. The discourse produces information on which population requires assistance and is at risk, as well as which form of assistance will be provided to whom. However, these processes are not independent of power. Social institutions shape discourse by framing it with ideology and reproducing it. Thus, the problematic use of language within the discourse that points to a particular paradigm can legitimise one type of knowledge and interest while rendering the other invisible. In this framework, it is important to approach the use of the term “natural disaster” critically as it carries certain risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80a6c652189a42c899b63f43405cc0f3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2667-6931 |
| language | deu |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Istanbul University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj-art-80a6c652189a42c899b63f43405cc0f32025-08-20T01:50:22ZdeuIstanbul University Pressİstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi2667-69312024-12-0144276579310.26650/SJ.2024.44.2.0020123456Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of DisastersFatma Levent0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1683-3539Temmuz Gönç Şavran1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0561-4661Anadolu Üniversitesi, Eskişehir, TürkiyeAnadolu Üniversitesi, Eskişehir, TürkiyeDisaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to discuss these claims and to show how the interpretations, meanings, and connotations associated with disasters direct social dynamics from the perspective of critical sociology. The study highlights how concepts are constructed within discourses and used to construct certain truths, how definitions of disaster have changed based on the hazards paradigm, the vulnerability paradigm, and critical approaches, and discusses the risks and conceptual confusion that can be created by using the concept of “natural disaster”. In essence, the blaming of nature solely for disasters removes human influence from the equation and promotes the idea that humans are at war with nature. This reinforces the belief that human beings will fail in the face of nature no matter what they do, but it also prepares the ground for the implementation of disaster policies and laws that favour the interests of one group while ignoring others. The concepts employed contribute to the reinforcement of this ground, even if the individuals using them are unaware of it. The discourse produces information on which population requires assistance and is at risk, as well as which form of assistance will be provided to whom. However, these processes are not independent of power. Social institutions shape discourse by framing it with ideology and reproducing it. Thus, the problematic use of language within the discourse that points to a particular paradigm can legitimise one type of knowledge and interest while rendering the other invisible. In this framework, it is important to approach the use of the term “natural disaster” critically as it carries certain risks.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/64DED6F6D81843CAA20073CB7C274755natural disastersociology of disastervulnerabilityhazarddiscourse |
| spellingShingle | Fatma Levent Temmuz Gönç Şavran Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi natural disaster sociology of disaster vulnerability hazard discourse |
| title | Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters |
| title_full | Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters |
| title_fullStr | Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters |
| title_short | Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters |
| title_sort | can disasters be unnatural a sociological discussion on the naturalness of disasters |
| topic | natural disaster sociology of disaster vulnerability hazard discourse |
| url | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/64DED6F6D81843CAA20073CB7C274755 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fatmalevent candisastersbeunnaturalasociologicaldiscussiononthenaturalnessofdisasters AT temmuzgoncsavran candisastersbeunnaturalasociologicaldiscussiononthenaturalnessofdisasters |