Taxonomy of the Crisis and Disaster Literature: Themes and Types in 34 Years of Research

In: Risk, hazards & crisis in public policy, Band 8, Heft 4, S. 272-283

Abstract

This survey of the literature on crises and disasters reveals that crisis and disaster scholars remain focused on 'classic' natural disaster types and on our ability to prepare and respond to the threat they pose. The prevalence of natural disasters as a crisis type and the dominance of preparedness as a crisis theme indicates that the literature remains firmly linked to the world of practice, examining how best practices may be shared to prepare for future incidents. Yet interestingly, the three journals studied demonstrate modest interest in a number of issues that are only likely to increase in the coming years, all of which relate directly to an increasingly interconnected world. Most notably, the lack of attention on system interconnectedness or on advances in communication and cyber dependence (despite the rise of social media and internet use) is a surprising result, given how such systems and methods of communication are becoming so integrated into daily life. Such studies could help scholars and policymakers understand the unexpected turns crises can take and provide practitioners with a range of tools when preparing for or handling future crises.