A Dilemma of Language: “Natural Disasters” in Academic Literature

Ksenia Chmutina; Jason von Meding

doi:10.1007/s13753-019-00232-2

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Ksenia Chmutina, Jason von Meding. A Dilemma of Language: “Natural Disasters” in Academic Literature[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2019, 10(3): 283-292. doi: 10.1007/s13753-019-00232-2

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Ksenia Chmutina, Jason von Meding. A Dilemma of Language: “Natural Disasters” in Academic Literature[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2019, 10(3): 283-292. doi: 10.1007/s13753-019-00232-2

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A Dilemma of Language: “Natural Disasters” in Academic Literature

doi: 10.1007/s13753-019-00232-2

Ksenia Chmutina^{1
,
,},
Jason von Meding²

1 School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK;
2 Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Available Online: 2021-04-26

Abstract

Abstract

For decades sections of the academic community have been emphasizing that disasters are not natural. Nevertheless, politicians, the media, various international organizations-and, more surprisingly, many established researchers working in disaster studies-are still widely using the expression "natural disaster." We systematically analyzed the usage of the expression "natural disaster" by disaster studies researchers in 589 articles in six key academic journals representative of disaster studies research, and found that authors are using the expression in three principal ways:(1) delineating natural and human-induced hazards; (2) using the expression to leverage popularity; and (3) critiquing the expression "natural disaster." We also identified vulnerability themes that illustrate the context of "natural disaster" usage. The implications of continuing to use this expression, while explicitly researching human vulnerability, are wide-ranging, and we explore what this means for us and our peers. This study particularly aims to stimulate debate within the disaster studies research community and related fields as to whether the term "natural disaster" is really fit for purpose moving forward.
- Academic communication,
- Disasters,
- Natural hazards,
- Language

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References(51)

References

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