John Hannigan is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto.

• Acknowledgments viGlossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms viiiText Boxes xIntroduction 11 The Disaster Politics Nexus 62 The Global Policy Field of Natural Disasters 183 The Kindness of Strangers 424 A Safer World? 595 Climate of Concern 786 Disaster Politics as Game Playing 977 Mass Media and the Politics of Disaster 1158 Disaster Politics: A Discursive Approach 1309 Conclusion 146Notes 159References 167Index 188

"An enjoyable, easily accessible read."Global Journal "This fluent, critical and accessible book provides a wealth of detail and insight into the political and social pressures that shape discourse, international organization and policy for disaster management. A strongly recommended text for students of humanitarianism, disaster risk management, and international development policy, and a wake-up call for practitioners."Mark Pelling, King’s College London"This volume highlights the interplay of normative, political, and institutional factors steering how we conceptualize and respond to disasters. As such it provides readers with an understanding of how actors at different levels actually make sense of disasters, a perspective that is rarely explored in the current literature."Ian Christoplos, Danish Institute for International Studies "...comprehensive and applicable to any border region. The book is easy to read..."D. Rick Van Schoik, North American Research Partnership "An important read for researchers and advanced students interested in the politics of international emergency management and disaster assistance."Choice

John Hannigan is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto.

• Acknowledgments viGlossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms viiiText Boxes xIntroduction 11 The Disaster Politics Nexus 62 The Global Policy Field of Natural Disasters 183 The Kindness of Strangers 424 A Safer World? 595 Climate of Concern 786 Disaster Politics as Game Playing 977 Mass Media and the Politics of Disaster 1158 Disaster Politics: A Discursive Approach 1309 Conclusion 146Notes 159References 167Index 188

"An enjoyable, easily accessible read."Global Journal "This fluent, critical and accessible book provides a wealth of detail and insight into the political and social pressures that shape discourse, international organization and policy for disaster management. A strongly recommended text for students of humanitarianism, disaster risk management, and international development policy, and a wake-up call for practitioners."Mark Pelling, King’s College London"This volume highlights the interplay of normative, political, and institutional factors steering how we conceptualize and respond to disasters. As such it provides readers with an understanding of how actors at different levels actually make sense of disasters, a perspective that is rarely explored in the current literature."Ian Christoplos, Danish Institute for International Studies "...comprehensive and applicable to any border region. The book is easy to read..."D. Rick Van Schoik, North American Research Partnership "An important read for researchers and advanced students interested in the politics of international emergency management and disaster assistance."Choice

John Hannigan is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto.

• Acknowledgments viGlossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms viiiText Boxes xIntroduction 11 The Disaster Politics Nexus 62 The Global Policy Field of Natural Disasters 183 The Kindness of Strangers 424 A Safer World? 595 Climate of Concern 786 Disaster Politics as Game Playing 977 Mass Media and the Politics of Disaster 1158 Disaster Politics: A Discursive Approach 1309 Conclusion 146Notes 159References 167Index 188

"An enjoyable, easily accessible read."Global Journal "This fluent, critical and accessible book provides a wealth of detail and insight into the political and social pressures that shape discourse, international organization and policy for disaster management. A strongly recommended text for students of humanitarianism, disaster risk management, and international development policy, and a wake-up call for practitioners."Mark Pelling, King’s College London"This volume highlights the interplay of normative, political, and institutional factors steering how we conceptualize and respond to disasters. As such it provides readers with an understanding of how actors at different levels actually make sense of disasters, a perspective that is rarely explored in the current literature."Ian Christoplos, Danish Institute for International Studies "...comprehensive and applicable to any border region. The book is easy to read..."D. Rick Van Schoik, North American Research Partnership "An important read for researchers and advanced students interested in the politics of international emergency management and disaster assistance."Choice