140064 SE VM5 / VM1 - International history and politics of disaster (2018S)

This course explores the international, transnational, and global dimensions of disaster.

The first dimension is a result of the transnational nature of disasters: nuclear clouds, volcanic eruptions or locust invasions do not stop at national borders and some may have global climatic, sanitary or environmental consequences. Hence, this may require collaboration between state and non-state actors of friendly as well as hostile states.

The second dimension concerns the phenomenon of international disaster assistance and cooperation, both of which have evolved significantly over the course of the 20th century. The moral responsibility of governments to come to the aid of its own citizens - and later of the citizens of other states - has only slowly materialized over the past two centuries. An emerging transnational civil society, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, scientific and technical organizations, international finance institutions, academia, media and private persons have also become players in what could be described as an 'international governance' of disaster. They all contribute to the creation of disaster management as an international concern, which shares issues with international law, development, insurance, humanitarianism, the natural and social sciences or engineering