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Reflections on 40 years of Disasters, 1977–2017

Davis, Ian LU (2019) In Disasters 43(S1). p.61-82
Abstract

This reflection, based on a keynote address to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Disasters on 14 September 2017, begins by considering some of the prevailing assumptions that existed at the time of the journal's creation. Next is a summary of significant milestones during the past 40 years, covering major global trends, changing disaster impacts, and key developments in disaster risk management. Contrasting approaches in the first and fourth decade of the journal's history are then followed by examples of changes in terminology in the disaster field as an indication of shifting values. The paper goes on to explore the context of 2017, with observations of problem areas such as the loss of knowledge, failures to tackle the root... (More)

This reflection, based on a keynote address to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Disasters on 14 September 2017, begins by considering some of the prevailing assumptions that existed at the time of the journal's creation. Next is a summary of significant milestones during the past 40 years, covering major global trends, changing disaster impacts, and key developments in disaster risk management. Contrasting approaches in the first and fourth decade of the journal's history are then followed by examples of changes in terminology in the disaster field as an indication of shifting values. The paper goes on to explore the context of 2017, with observations of problem areas such as the loss of knowledge, failures to tackle the root causes of disasters, shortfalls in international assistance, and some negative attitudes. It closes by evaluating some current positive occurrences, including a reduction in casualties, sharing of experience, technological advances, and dramatic improvements in disaster warning.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
comparisons, data, Disasters, education, knowledge, milestones, progress, root causes, success factors, technology, trends
in
Disasters
volume
43
issue
S1
pages
61 - 82
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85061454870
  • pmid:30756416
ISSN
0361-3666
DOI
10.1111/disa.12328
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7c3a4a2e-8f3e-4b01-a0a0-42dddb83608a
date added to LUP
2019-02-22 09:56:48
date last changed
2024-06-11 05:23:29
@article{7c3a4a2e-8f3e-4b01-a0a0-42dddb83608a,
  abstract     = {{<p>This reflection, based on a keynote address to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Disasters on 14 September 2017, begins by considering some of the prevailing assumptions that existed at the time of the journal's creation. Next is a summary of significant milestones during the past 40 years, covering major global trends, changing disaster impacts, and key developments in disaster risk management. Contrasting approaches in the first and fourth decade of the journal's history are then followed by examples of changes in terminology in the disaster field as an indication of shifting values. The paper goes on to explore the context of 2017, with observations of problem areas such as the loss of knowledge, failures to tackle the root causes of disasters, shortfalls in international assistance, and some negative attitudes. It closes by evaluating some current positive occurrences, including a reduction in casualties, sharing of experience, technological advances, and dramatic improvements in disaster warning.</p>}},
  author       = {{Davis, Ian}},
  issn         = {{0361-3666}},
  keywords     = {{comparisons; data; Disasters; education; knowledge; milestones; progress; root causes; success factors; technology; trends}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{S1}},
  pages        = {{61--82}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Disasters}},
  title        = {{Reflections on 40 years of Disasters, 1977–2017}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/disa.12328}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/disa.12328}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}