Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters

Fatma Levent; Temmuz Gönç Şavran

Article Details

Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters

Authors:

Fatma Levent | Temmuz Gönç Şavran

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi Vol.44 Issue 2, pp.765-793

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340892

pISSN:

2667-6931

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Disaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to discuss these claims and to show how the interpretations, meanings, and connotations associated with disasters direct social dynamics from the perspective of critical sociology. The study highlights how concepts are constructed within discourses and used to construct certain truths, how definitions of disaster have changed based on the hazards paradigm, the vulnerability paradigm, and critical approaches, and discusses the risks and conceptual confusion that can be created by using the concept of natural disaster. In essence, the blaming of nature solely for disasters removes human influence from the equation and promotes the idea that humans are at war with nature. This reinforces the belief that human beings will fail in the face of nature no matter what they do, but it also prepares the ground for the implementation of disaster policies and laws that favour the interests of one group while ignoring others. The concepts employed contribute to the reinforcement of this ground, even if the individuals using them are unaware of it. The discourse produces information on which population requires assistance and is at risk, as well as which form of assistance will be provided to whom. However, these processes are not independent of power. Social institutions shape discourse by framing it with ideology and reproducing it. Thus, the problematic use of language within the discourse that points to a particular paradigm can legitimise one type of knowledge and interest while rendering the other invisible. In this framework, it is important to approach the use of the term natural disaster critically as it carries certain risks.

 Disaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to discuss these claims and to show how the interpretations, meanings, and connotations associated with disasters direct social dynamics from the perspective of critical sociology. The study highlights how concepts are constructed within discourses and used to construct certain truths, how definitions of disaster have changed based on the hazards paradigm, the vulnerability paradigm, and critical approaches, and discusses the risks and conceptual confusion that can be created by using the concept of natural disaster. In essence, the blaming of nature solely for disasters removes human influence from the equation and promotes the idea that humans are at war with nature. This reinforces the belief that human beings will fail in the face of nature no matter what they do, but it also prepares the ground for the implementation of disaster policies and laws that favour the interests of one group while ignoring others. The concepts employed contribute to the reinforcement of this ground, even if the individuals using them are unaware of it. The discourse produces information on which population requires assistance and is at risk, as well as which form of assistance will be provided to whom. However, these processes are not independent of power. Social institutions shape discourse by framing it with ideology and reproducing it. Thus, the problematic use of language within the discourse that points to a particular paradigm can legitimise one type of knowledge and interest while rendering the other invisible. In this framework, it is important to approach the use of the term natural disaster critically as it carries certain risks.

 Disaster is attracting more and more attention as an interdisciplinary field of study. In recent years, both the assertion that disasters are not a natural phenomenon but a social one and the criticism of this assertion have become more widespread. This article is a compilation study prepared to discuss these claims and to show how the interpretations, meanings, and connotations associated with disasters direct social dynamics from the perspective of critical sociology. The study highlights how concepts are constructed within discourses and used to construct certain truths, how definitions of disaster have changed based on the hazards paradigm, the vulnerability paradigm, and critical approaches, and discusses the risks and conceptual confusion that can be created by using the concept of natural disaster. In essence, the blaming of nature solely for disasters removes human influence from the equation and promotes the idea that humans are at war with nature. This reinforces the belief that human beings will fail in the face of nature no matter what they do, but it also prepares the ground for the implementation of disaster policies and laws that favour the interests of one group while ignoring others. The concepts employed contribute to the reinforcement of this ground, even if the individuals using them are unaware of it. The discourse produces information on which population requires assistance and is at risk, as well as which form of assistance will be provided to whom. However, these processes are not independent of power. Social institutions shape discourse by framing it with ideology and reproducing it. Thus, the problematic use of language within the discourse that points to a particular paradigm can legitimise one type of knowledge and interest while rendering the other invisible. In this framework, it is important to approach the use of the term natural disaster critically as it carries certain risks.

 Disiplinler arası bir çalışma konusu olarak afet giderek daha fazla ilgi görmektedir. Son yıllarda hem afetin doğal değil toplumsal bir olgu olduğu yönündeki iddialar hem de buna yönelik eleştiriler yaygınlaşmaktadır. Bu makale bu iddiaları tartışmak ve eleştirel sosyoloji perspektifinden hareketle afete ilişkin yorum, anlam ve çağrışımların toplumsal dinamikleri nasıl yönlendirdiğini göstermek amacıyla hazırlanmış bir derleme çalışmasıdır. Çalışmada kavramların söylemler çerçevesinde inşa edildiği ve belirli hakikatleri oluşturmak için kullandığı vurgulanmakta, tehlikeler paradigması, kırılganlık paradigması ve eleştirel yaklaşımlardan yola çıkarak afete ilişkin tanımların nasıl değiştiğine değinilmekte ve doğal afet kavramını kullanmanın yaratabileceği riskler ve kavram karmaşası tartışılmaktadır. Afetlerden yalnızca doğayı sorumlu tutmak insanın doğayla savaş hâlinde olduğu ve insanın doğa karşısında ne yaparsa yapsın başarısız olacağı düşüncesini güçlendirir, bu düşünce bir grubun çıkarını gözetirken diğerini görmezden gelen afet politika ve yasaları için de zemin hazırlar. Hangi nüfusun yardıma muhtaç ve risk altında olduğu, kime hangi yardımların yapılacağı tartışılırken kullanılan kavramlar bu zemini güçlendirebilir. Toplumsal kurumlar söylemi ideolojiyle çerçeveleyerek şekillendirip ideolojiyi yeniden ürettiği için belirli bir paradigmaya işaret eden söylem içindeki dilin problemli kullanımı bir tür bilgiyi ve çıkarı meşru kılarken diğerini görünmez hâle getirebilir. Bu çerçevede doğal afet kavramını kullanmak da benzer riskleri taşıdığı için bu kavrama eleştirel yaklaşmak gerekmektedir.

Article Details

Can Disasters Be Unnatural? A Sociological Discussion on the “Naturalness” of Disasters

Authors:

Fatma Levent | Temmuz Gönç Şavran

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi Vol.44 Issue 2, pp.765-793

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340892

pISSN:

2667-6931

Natural disaster

Sociology of disaster

Vulnerability

Hazard

DiscourseDoğal afet

Afet sosyolojisi

Kırılganlık

Tehlike

Söylem

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Fatma Levent | Temmuz Gönç Şavran

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal: İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi Vol.44 Issue 2, pp.765-793

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001340892

pISSN: 2667-6931

Issues

Authors:

Fatma Levent | Temmuz Gönç Şavran

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Dergisi Vol.44 Issue 2, pp.765-793

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340892

pISSN:

2667-6931