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Encyclopedia of Technological Hazards and Disasters in the Social Sciences
The Encyclopedia of Technological Hazards and Disasters in the Social Sciences brings together an array of global experts to investigate, explore and analyse human-caused disaster events. Providing insights into both the origins and aftermaths of disaster events, it offers advanced understanding of a broad range of disaster events facing society during the Anthropocene.
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Critical Acclaim
More Information
The Encyclopedia of Technological Hazards and Disasters in the Social Sciences brings together an array of global experts to investigate, explore and analyse human-caused disaster events. Providing insights into both the origins and aftermaths of disaster events, it offers advanced understanding of a broad range of disaster events facing society during the Anthropocene.
Entries cover both well and lesser-known nuclear accidents, oil spills and industrial incidents such as the Three Mile Island accident, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, BP Deepwater Horizon spill and the Bhopal accident. The contributors present concepts and theories that elucidate why these disastrous events happen, the effects they have on communities, and how we can better prevent them. Entries also examine the current state of the art in hazards and disaster research, providing suggestions for future research topics and issues to explore. The Encyclopedia interrogates the social, historical, economic, cultural, and political forces that culminate in disaster, offering a unique multidisciplinary approach which will further advance the field of hazards and disaster research.
This comprehensive Encyclopedia is a vital resource for students and scholars of environmental sociology, geography, regulation and governance, and science and technology studies. It will also appeal to legal practitioners and policy makers involved in the prevention and investigation of technological disasters.
Key Features:
• Over 110 wide-ranging entries, organised alphabetically for accessibility and ease of navigation.
• Reviews methodological and ethical approaches affecting research in this fast-developing area.
• Includes key relevant references for further reading, supporting conceptual, theoretical, and analytical arguments.
• Presents decades of social science research on relevant theories, concepts, and human-caused hazard and disaster events.
Entries cover both well and lesser-known nuclear accidents, oil spills and industrial incidents such as the Three Mile Island accident, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, BP Deepwater Horizon spill and the Bhopal accident. The contributors present concepts and theories that elucidate why these disastrous events happen, the effects they have on communities, and how we can better prevent them. Entries also examine the current state of the art in hazards and disaster research, providing suggestions for future research topics and issues to explore. The Encyclopedia interrogates the social, historical, economic, cultural, and political forces that culminate in disaster, offering a unique multidisciplinary approach which will further advance the field of hazards and disaster research.
This comprehensive Encyclopedia is a vital resource for students and scholars of environmental sociology, geography, regulation and governance, and science and technology studies. It will also appeal to legal practitioners and policy makers involved in the prevention and investigation of technological disasters.
Key Features:
• Over 110 wide-ranging entries, organised alphabetically for accessibility and ease of navigation.
• Reviews methodological and ethical approaches affecting research in this fast-developing area.
• Includes key relevant references for further reading, supporting conceptual, theoretical, and analytical arguments.
• Presents decades of social science research on relevant theories, concepts, and human-caused hazard and disaster events.
Critical Acclaim
‘Through brief but substantive essays, this remarkable collection of authors reveals the intersection between technologies, economic incentives, and social constraints that generate social risk in novel and unanticipated ways. Building on Ulrich Beck’s seminal insights regarding the impact of technologies on working social and economic practices, the essays, collectively, produce a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the ‘risk society.’’
– Louise K. Comfort, University of Pittsburgh, US
‘This far-reaching Encyclopedia consists of entries on topics that are central to social science research on technological hazards and disasters. Contributing authors include many of the world’s leading hazards and disasters scholars. What an enormous contribution! It will be of great use for students, researchers, civil society groups, and policymakers.’
– Andrew Jorgenson, The University of British Columbia, Canada
‘This is an impressive collection of authoritative pieces encompassing well known (even notorious) and lesser-known technological hazards and disasters. Despite the technological label, the editors and authors confront the problematic taxonomic issue of setting boundaries for natural disasters which are never natural and technological disasters which may have natural triggers or consequences. The case studies provide a rich evidence base of concepts, theories, empirical studies and critical analyses that should be the first destination for those new to the field, and also an exemplary reference guide for the more experienced. But it is in the comprehensiveness of this collection that the Encyclopedia scores most strongly as there is nothing currently available with the breadth of its coverage. Despite decades of work in disaster research, I found much that was new and insightful from these entries.’
– Maureen Fordham, University College London, UK
‘Hazards and disasters are the flipside of technological systems’ ability to funnel natural forces into social processes, with increasingly complex and far reaching implications. This is a much needed, impressively comprehensive and compelling guide to navigating concepts, theories and events.’
– Luigi Pellizzoni, Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy
– Louise K. Comfort, University of Pittsburgh, US
‘This far-reaching Encyclopedia consists of entries on topics that are central to social science research on technological hazards and disasters. Contributing authors include many of the world’s leading hazards and disasters scholars. What an enormous contribution! It will be of great use for students, researchers, civil society groups, and policymakers.’
– Andrew Jorgenson, The University of British Columbia, Canada
‘This is an impressive collection of authoritative pieces encompassing well known (even notorious) and lesser-known technological hazards and disasters. Despite the technological label, the editors and authors confront the problematic taxonomic issue of setting boundaries for natural disasters which are never natural and technological disasters which may have natural triggers or consequences. The case studies provide a rich evidence base of concepts, theories, empirical studies and critical analyses that should be the first destination for those new to the field, and also an exemplary reference guide for the more experienced. But it is in the comprehensiveness of this collection that the Encyclopedia scores most strongly as there is nothing currently available with the breadth of its coverage. Despite decades of work in disaster research, I found much that was new and insightful from these entries.’
– Maureen Fordham, University College London, UK
‘Hazards and disasters are the flipside of technological systems’ ability to funnel natural forces into social processes, with increasingly complex and far reaching implications. This is a much needed, impressively comprehensive and compelling guide to navigating concepts, theories and events.’
– Luigi Pellizzoni, Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy
