Summary: Disasters can occur as either a natural or man-made problem. The suffering of disaster-affected communities is often unequal, and the differences reshape local histories, cultures and existing social structures. In the project “The impact of Nepal Earthquake 2015 on State-Civil Society Relationship” I examine the social dynamics of disaster suffering, recovery and reconstruction. Particularly, I critically examine the recovery policies devised by the Nepali government and major international organizations by particularly looking at the concept of resilience and its implications for recovery strategies. The study shows that resilience may be merely another fashionable word used by policymakers; positive changes are minimal if poor governance remains. The studies contribute substantially to the current intellectual discussion on perceptions of risk hazards, resilience, disaster governance, sustainability and civic participation.
By: Dr. Christie Lam