Contemporary Uses of Sociological Research: Sociology of Disaster
Date
1992
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Disaster Research Center
Abstract
The value of sociological research is dependent on the cultural conceptualization of an issue and its public policy implications. For most of human history, disasters have been considered collective misfortunes but not objects of study, or even issues of public policy. However, much of recorded history is structured around disaster and, in literature, disaster has been used as a metaphor to explain universal human actions. Usually, disasters have been considered “acts of God”, conveniently outside social systems, although certain consequences of disaster had important social implications. Those in power often perceived disasters as weakening social systems which made rulers vulnerable to conquest from outsiders. Disaster, then, had implications for maintaining social order. There was also concern for disaster “victims”. Even if God were responsible, his randomness did not necessarily coincide with worldly notions of justice. Thus unjustly affected were deserving of compassion. Even in the colonial period, disaster victims deserved relief. This paper explores these and other related themes and concepts.
Description
Keywords
Sociology, Research, Disaster Research