The Capability Approach and Disasters: The Impact of Cultural and Social Processes on Community Resilience

Abstract

We are living in an “age of disasters” that is profoundly affecting societies and communities on a global scale. “Natural” disasters (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis), wars, migrations, famines, epidemics, environmental disasters, and economic crises are reshaping our world and causing significant disruptions in the daily lives of communities. These disasters have a serious impact, especially on vulnerable groups such as migrants/asylum seekers, women, and the disabled, exacerbating existing inequalities and reducing their resilience in the face of such crises. In this study, it is argued that in order to create a society resilient to the disasters that occur in today’s societies, the conditions that will eliminate or reduce the vulnerability of social groups should be considered through the axis of the capability approach and the question of whether it is possible to reduce vulnerability by developing policies that will increase the capabilities of these groups. This study does not address vulnerable groups from an essentialist perspective; rather, it aims to examine how disasters hinder the ability of these groups to act and how pre-existing social and cultural conditions exacerbate the impact of disasters. The study begins with a conceptual discussion of the capability approach, then analyzes the conditions of vulnerability faced by persons with disabilities, migrants/asylum seekers, and women in disasters. Finally, by drawing attention to the concept of “collective capabilities,” it emphasizes the possibilities of the capability approach for guiding policies and developing recommendations for disaster management.