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Slide1 : Vulnerability and Global Change


Vulnerability : Vulnerability Defencelessness, insecurity (internal vulnerability); exposure to risk, shock (external vulnerability) (Chambers, 1989). The characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from impacts of a hazard (Blaikie et al). Production, consumption, assets and claims (entitlement theory) (Swift, 1989). Vulnerability is multi-layered and multidimensional social space defined by the determinate political, economic and institutional capabilities of people in specific places at specific times (Watts and Bohle, 1993). Vulnerability and capacity/resilience: protection of one’s livelihood (Anderson and Woodrow, 1989).


New Research Issues (National Academy of Sciences, 1999) : New Research Issues (National Academy of Sciences, 1999) Understanding sensitivity and vulnerability to environmental variations and changes. Human consequences of environmental change depend on the sensitivity and vulnerability of social systems and on their ability to adapt to environmental change.


Theories Underpinning Vulnerability Research : Theories Underpinning Vulnerability Research


Vulnerability linked to livelihoods : Vulnerability linked to livelihoods ASSETS / ENTITLEMENTS Tangible and Intangible e.g. Labour, human capital, productive assets. Food entitlements e.g. food household can obtain (Sen, 1989) Extent to which people can adapt linked to assets at their disposal. FORM basis of hhld’s entitlements


Analysis of hunger and famine based on entitlements must account for: : Analysis of hunger and famine based on entitlements must account for: The particular distribution of entitlements and how these are reproduced The larger canvas of rights by which entitlements are fought over, contested (empowerment) Structural properties – crisis proneness for the political economy which precipitates entitlement crisis (Watts and Bohle, 1993) Totality of processes define a space/social map of vulnerability


Multiple Causality:Mapping a space of vulnerability : Multiple Causality: Mapping a space of vulnerability A B C Class based patterns of social reproduction (surplus production) Command over food Totality of rights (endow-ments) (enfranchise-ments Economic Capability Property relations Class Power ENTITLEMENT EMPOWERMENT POLITICAL ECONOMY A: Vulnerability by lack of POTENTIALITY B: Vulnerability by EXPOSURE C: Vulnerability by lack of CAPACITY Space of Vulnerability (Watts and Bohle, 1993)


The 1949 Malawi Famine : The 1949 Malawi Famine Women, very old, very young Casual labourers Artisans, informal traders Self-employed, tobacco farmers, maize traders Urban workers, employees tobacco industry Low vulnerability Medium vulnerability High vulnerability Pre-famine situation Famine situation Watts and Bohle, 1993


Double Structure of Vulnerability (After Bohle, 2001) : Double Structure of Vulnerability (After Bohle, 2001) THE DOUBLE STRUCTURE OF VULNERABILITY Crisis and Conflict Theory Political Economy Approaches The 'external' side of vulnerability The 'internal' side of vulnerability EXPOSURE COPING Human Ecological Perspectives Entitlement Theory Models of Access to Assets Action Theory Approaches


Resilience/Resistance/Persistence : Resilience/Resistance/Persistence Ability to withstand a shock/perturbation Coping /adaptive capacity Diversification Human and Financial Resources Exploiting Opportunities Recovery from Negative effects


Measuring Vulnerability : Measuring Vulnerability Social Scientists Disaster Managers Humanitarian Practitioners Climate Change Scientists


Social Scientists : Social Scientists


Socioeconomic matrix of vulnerability (Downing, 1995) : Socioeconomic matrix of vulnerability (Downing, 1995)


Sustainable rural livelihoods:Framework (Chambers and Conway, 1992; Carney, 1998) : Sustainable rural livelihoods: Framework (Chambers and Conway, 1992; Carney, 1998)


Disaster Managers : Disaster Managers


Schematic Outline of Vulnerability : Schematic Outline of Vulnerability Increased Vulnerability Exposure to Hazards and Threats LACK OF RESOURCES Income Assets Social Support Etc… LACK OF ACCESS Health Services Credit Information Etc… Reduced Capacity to Cope and Recover (After Wisner, 1993)


Traditional Approaches to Disaster Management : Traditional Approaches to Disaster Management


Expand – Contract Process : Expand – Contract Process


Humanitarian Practitioners : Humanitarian Practitioners


Some approaches to vulnerability assessment : Some approaches to vulnerability assessment