6th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016 Integrative Risk Management - Towards Resilient Cities. 28 August - 01 September 2016 in Davos, Switzerland

1. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Bottom-Up Organizing and
Empowerment in Post-
Disaster Work
Bondesson, Sara
Department of Government, Uppsala University, Sweden; Center
for Natural Disaster Science (CNDS), Sweden; Swedish National
Defence University, Stockholm, Sweden.
E-mail: sara.bondesson@fhs.se

2. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Problem
Structurally Differentiated Vulnerability
’The hardest hit are the least heard’
The Solution
Increase Participation and Influence
Aim of Dissertation
To explore social justice movements/actors’
attempts at re-distributing power to disaster affected communities,
across the relief-recovery continuum.
Re-distribution of Power
through
INCLUSION
FLEXIBILITY
HORIZONTALITY

3. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Theoretical Assumptions
Social justice organizing can
increase participation and
influence, but risks of conflicts and
tensions
Trust develops gradually
Prospects for participation and
influence in the recovery phase are
greater if the relief phase is
characterized by the three
mechanisms.

4. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Case
Occupy Sandy’s relief & recovery work
after Hurricane Sandy in Rockaway, New York City
2012

5. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Method & Material:
Single-case Qualitative Design
Integrated Ethnographic Method:
11 months
57 Interviews
23 Part. Observations
Volunteer Work

6. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
- Activation of storm-
affected residents
- Amplified local
initiatives
- Adequate needs
assessment
The Relief Phase:
INCLUSION
FLEXIBILITY
HORIZONTALITY

7. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
- Conditioned leadership
- Agenda less open-ended
- Subtle exclusion
- Distrust, conflicts and
resistance from residents
INCLUSION
FLEXIBILITY
HORIZONTALITY
The Recovery Phase:

8. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Theoretical Assumptions
Social justice organizing can
increase participation and
influence, but risks of conflicts and
tensions
Trust develops gradually
Prospects for participation and
influence in the recovery phase are
greater if the relief phase is
characterized by the three
mechanisms.
(Preliminary) Conclusions
Extreme cirumstances may
lessen tensions and conflicts in
collaborative projects
Time versus complexity
Power as zero-sum in recovery
but not in relief

9. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Bondesson, Sara
Department of Government, Uppsala University,
Sweden; Center for Natural Disaster Science (CNDS),
Sweden; Swedish National Defence University,
Stockholm, Sweden.
E-mail: sara.bondesson@fhs.se
Thank you for listening!
Reflections, comments, questions?

10. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Method & Material:
Single-case qualitative design
Integrated Ethnographic Method
Primary Material:
21 respondent interviews
8 participatory observations
Secondary material:
11 months in New York City
23 informant interviews
15 field observations
14 field conversations
1 month volunteer work in a community based organization in Rockaway.