Bornstein, L; Lizarralde, G; Gould, K A and Davidson, C (2013) Framing responses to post-earthquake Haiti: How representations of disasters, reconstruction and human settlements shape resilience. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 4(1), pp. 43-57. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this paper is to add a new dimension to urban resilience by exploring how representations of disasters, reconstruction and human settlements are made, and how, by shaping plans and programs, they ultimately influence resilience. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on James Scott's notion of "legibility" to ask how different representations simplify complex realities and how they are transformed into plans and programs. The paper first outlines the various broad analytic lens used to examine legibility to portray post-disaster reconstruction, drawing on international literature and policies. The paper then focuses on post-earthquake Haiti and analyzes eight reconstruction plans and reviews design proposals submitted for the Building Back Better Communities program to explore how different stakeholders portrayed the disaster, identified the reconstruction challenges and proposed to address human settlements. Findings: Representations of the disaster, the reconstruction challenge and the housing problem were quite varied. While the plans assumed a very broad view of the reconstruction challenge (one that goes beyond the representations found in the literature), the BBBC program adopted a very narrow view of it (one that the literature condemns for failing to achieve sustainable resilience). Research limitations/implications: The empirical research is exploratory, suggesting an approach that throws a new light on the analysis of plans and programs for improved resilience. Practical implications: The study suggests that the representations that decision makers, institutions and organizations make of the world ultimately establish the framework in which resilience is constructed. Originality/value: The lens of legibility confirms that the expression of different representations makes the world legible in different ways and therefore transforms the way in which resilience can be improved.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | disaster response; disasters; Haiti; human settlements; legibility; plans; resilience |
| Index terms: | dimension, Haiti, post-disaster reconstruction, methodology, framing, reconstruction, urban resilience, drawing, disaster response, housing, program, earthquake, proposal |
| Subjects: | conceptual models, environmental hazards, health monitoring assessment and metrics, post-disaster and reconstruction, sustainability and resilience, project planning, software systems, building construction, research methods, technical documentation, Geography, construction type, emergency and crisis management |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Geographical Context, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Engineering Principles, Design Practice, Health and Safety, Project Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here