USING HUMAN SECURITY CONCEPT FOR ANALYSING IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS Mg.sc.pol. RIHARDS BAMBALS PhD student | Department of Political Science | University of Latvia International Conference “World in Change: from Consumption to Sustainability, from Competition to Collaboration, from Hierarchy to Networks, from being Good to Doing Good” Riga, 19 May 2014 Contact me: [email protected]
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Using human security concept for analysing impacts of natural disasters
International Conference “World in Change: from Consumption to Sustainability, from Competition to Collaboration, from Hierarchy to Networks, from being Good to Doing Good” Riga, 19 May 2014. Mg.sc.pol. Rihards Bambals PhD student | Department of Political Science | University of Latvia. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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USING HUMAN SECURITY CONCEPT FOR ANALYSING
IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Mg.sc.pol. RIHARDS BAMBALSPhD student | Department of Political Science |
University of Latvia
International Conference “World in Change: from Consumption to Sustainability, from
Competition to Collaboration, from Hierarchy to Networks, from being Good to Doing Good”
What is a DISASTER? “An event concentrated in time and
space, in which a society or one of its subdivisions undergoes physical harm and social disruption, such that some essential functions of the society or subdivision are impaired” (Fritz, 1961: 655);
“Events that kill at least 10 or affect at least 100 people” (UNDP, 1994: 29);
What is a DISASTER? (II) “(1) disasters are inherently social phenomena,
and (2) the source of disasters is rooted in the social structure or social system” (Quarantelli, 2005:339);
“If there are no negative social consequences, there is no disaster” (Quarantelli, 2005:347);
“(Disaster) risk faced by people must be seen as a cross-cutting combination of vulnerability and hazard. Disasters are a result of the interaction between both” (Risk=Hazard x Vulnerability) (Wisner, Blaikie, Cannon & Davis, 2004:49)
What is a DISASTER? (III)No one discipline (inter-disciplinary
research in both social & natural sciences)No ultimate definition of disasterNo ‘disaster theory’No ultimate research methodologyCommon approach – social
consequences of disasters more important than physical harm:
1) Social Sciences research people and societies;2) Only social structures can be strengthened to enhance
What is HUMAN SECURITY? People-centric, comprehensive and
universal security concept Development studies & Security Studies UNDP Human Development Report 1994:
‘Freedom from want’ & ‘Freedom from fear’ ‘Safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease
and repression’ & ‘protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life – whether in homes, jobs or in communities’ (UNDP, 1994:23)
‘Perfect marriage’=Disasters+Human security Outcasts (no discipline) → interdisciplinary research Common interests → human, society Unfinished → room for improvements/new scientific
approaches & models Society’s resilience (HS) is hard to test
without external impact (e.g. natural disasters)
Objectives: ▪ Create new analytical tool/approach for disaster research▪ Deepen Human Security concept, prove its holistic nature
and possibilities to apply to any society in the world▪ Longterm: research which (and why) societies are more
all) of 7 HS dimensions are analysed;•Only LDCs are
usually researched
Objective HS:
Subjective HS:
• Statistics & indexes• Several indicators for each of 7 HS dimensions, compared before & after disaster• Values assigned based on comparisons (0-1)•Social surveys & interviews•Socially constructed sense of security;• Precise, quantifiable and inter-comparable results•Fast & representable
model (Ozolina, 2012): interaction between state & individual,role of intermediaries, area of HS
Objective HS: Case of Japan after 3/11
Subjective Human Security :Case of Latvia (Ogre, April 2013)
Timeframe of the floods: 15 to 19 April 2013People and households affected (officially): 1 deceased and 23 people evacuated, 39 indemnification applications and 120 households affected/damagedThe scale of damages: ~2 000 000 Lats (3 million Euro)Main providers of security: • State-provided – VUGD, police, emergency medical aid
and National Guard (armed forces)• Non-conventional - local religious community, Red Cross,
local NGOs, private entrepreneurs, enterprises & individuals
Subjective Human Security :Case of Latvia (Ogre, April 2013)
Population size: 28 151 (Ogre town + Ogresgals = affected regions)Initial target: 1% of the population (281). Samples (~50 each) from 6
different districts: 3 (50%) from directly affected (close proximity to the river); 3 (50%) from indirectly affected
Surveying time: 4 to 19 May, 2013 (2-4 weeks after the floods)Results: N=270 (0.96% of population; 38.52% men and 61.11%
woman), Margin of error = 5.9% (with 95% level of confidence)Questionnaire with 8 questions (all close ended multiple
choice): Self evaluation of HS changes (each of 7 dimensions) after floods; Evaluation of the assistance provided, Trust to different security providers, Intensity of HS threat perception, Demographics, proximity to the river, filtering question.
2. Food security 30.56%3. Personal security 29.63%4. Health security 24.08%5. Economic security 22.41%6. Community security 22.22%7. Political security 5.93%
Conclusions & way-forward Human Security has potential to become a new approach for
disaster research. It allows: Identify & measure, which security dimension (and how much) is
affected; Measure changes in public perception of different threats; Measure society’s trust/confidence to state & non-state security
providers. Disasters & Human Security apply to any country → HS analytical
tool is holistic & universal Disasters ≠ homogenous. They can (and do) affect each of 7 HS dimensions HS changes after disaster → quality of ‘securitabilities’ before it
(knowledge and skills for not losing sense of security, or its fast recovery) States investing in HS have more resilient societies
(Japan) People around & networking matter more than state
provided security constellations (good or dangerous?)Contact me: [email protected]
What I do for my PhD thesis research? “Changes of Human Security after disasters
in Japan, Phillippines, Australia and Poland”; Comparative analysis of Objective HS = done.
Searching options for researching Subjective HS (nation-wide surveying, incl. Japan);
Results will allow to identify, which states are more resilient to disasters, and which factors (and ‘securitabilities’) influence it. Can they be adapted in other states? Formula for sustainable development?