{"product_id":"what-is-a-disaster-a-comparative-social-science","title":"What is a Disaster? - A Comparative Social Science","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of What is a Disaster? the focus is on readers who need a rigorous, comparative look at disaster definitions across disciplines. The book pairs six distinct social science perspectives with reaction papers and author responses, and its biggest reason to buy is the clear presentation of conceptual conflict that helps readers understand why scholars disagree about disasters. This review highlights how the volume is organized and who will benefit from its sustained, argumentative format rather than a single synthesized theory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulti-discipline approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents six separate social science perspectives, allowing readers to compare contrasting definitions and assumptions across fields.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStructured debate format:\u003c\/strong\u003e Each set of views is followed by a reaction paper and an author response, which clarifies points of agreement and contention for the reader.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on social crises:\u003c\/strong\u003e Examines events such as ethnic clashes, riots, and terrorist attacks alongside natural and technological hazards to probe conceptual boundaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConceptual clarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Highlights huge differences in how researchers define disasters, helping readers identify the underlying premises shaping each view.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholarly value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Serves as a useful reference for students and researchers seeking original arguments rather than a textbook summary.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is well suited for graduate students, researchers, and policy analysts who need to understand theoretical debates about what constitutes a disaster and why different disciplines frame crises differently. It is also useful for instructors who want a collection of opposed views to prompt classroom discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a single, settled definition or a practical handbook for emergency operations should look elsewhere; this volume is conceptual and argumentative rather than a field manual or step-by-step guide for responders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrings together multiple disciplinary perspectives, making contrasts explicit and facilitating comparative analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes reaction papers and author responses, which deepen understanding of each position and show scholarly exchange in practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful as a teaching text or reference for conceptual debates in public affairs and social services.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts emphasis on conceptual differences means it offers limited practical guidance for on-the-ground disaster management.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhat is a Disaster?\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEditor \/ Author\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eE.L. Quarantelli\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContent focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSocial science perspectives on disasters and crises\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScholarly essays with reaction papers and responses\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTopics covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEthnic clashes, riots, terrorist attacks, natural and technological events\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eResearchers, graduate students, policy analysts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is a Disaster? is a strong value for readers who want to grapple with competing scholarly views rather than quick answers; its design of paired essays and responses exposes conceptual division and is ideal for classroom use or research that demands careful theorizing about disasters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book offer practical disaster response advice?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe volume is primarily conceptual and does not function as an operational handbook for responders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho edited the collection?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is presented under the editorship of E.L. Quarantelli, who curated the disciplinary perspectives and reactions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre both natural and social crises covered?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; the essays compare social crises like ethnic clashes and riots with natural and technological events to examine definitional boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"E.L. Quarantelli","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48261944869083,"sku":"0415178983","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51QLqbIaZFL._SL1252.jpg?v=1771067319","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/what-is-a-disaster-a-comparative-social-science","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}