Anth 491 Culture, Vulnerability and Disaster Resilience

This class discusses the distinctions between natural hazards and disasters, human-made and natural events, and sudden and slow-moving catastrophes. It considers the effects of preexisting social inequalities (e.g., race) and vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty) and examines individual, household, and community resilience as a function of social networks and social capital. The class also explores the roles of perceived risk, connectivity, and social memory. It concludes with an analysis on the successes and failures of humanitarian aid.