Ebook: Living with the Unexpected: Linking Disaster Recovery to Sustainable Development in Montserrat

In 1980 my parents took me to St Lucia for the spring holidays. These vaca­ tions had - in the sense of the butterfly effect - considerable influence on my further curriculum. In the course of time I carried out many other journeys to the Caribbean. My colleagues even speak of an advancing "Caribbeanisation". This publication is the product of a lot of people who have supported and accompanied me during all this time. Most of my visits in the Caribbean were made possible by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). It was of great advantage to my insight into Carib­ bean matters that I was able to participate in the DFG-financed research pro­ ject "Complex resource mangement on small Caribbean islands" for five years. The final phase of my dissertation about Montserrat was also financially supported, this time by the local funds of the University of Hamburg. Within the scope of the DFG project, I stayed on Montserrat for some The island fascinated me from my first encounter. This is especially months.

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This study deals with complexity and uncertainty, thereby focusing on appropriate methods which enable vulnerable communities to cope effectively with natural hazards and disasters. The central goal of the study is an applicable combination of hazard management and development planning. Therefore, the reconstruction process following a disaster is understood as an opportunity for structural changes and self-organisation processes that can foster sustainable development. In this context the potential of scenario planning as an evolutionary and participatory learning approach is addressed. The empirical research concentrates on the time before and during the volcanic crisis on the Caribbean island Montserrat. Particular methods used are a systematic analysis of the case study, more than 200 interviews with stakeholders and citizens - concentrating on resource and hazard perception, as well as the organisation and execution of various scenario workshops.

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This study deals with complexity and uncertainty, thereby focusing on appropriate methods which enable vulnerable communities to cope effectively with natural hazards and disasters. The central goal of the study is an applicable combination of hazard management and development planning. Therefore, the reconstruction process following a disaster is understood as an opportunity for structural changes and self-organisation processes that can foster sustainable development. In this context the potential of scenario planning as an evolutionary and participatory learning approach is addressed. The empirical research concentrates on the time before and during the volcanic crisis on the Caribbean island Montserrat. Particular methods used are a systematic analysis of the case study, more than 200 interviews with stakeholders and citizens - concentrating on resource and hazard perception, as well as the organisation and execution of various scenario workshops.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Theoretical Reflections....Pages 9-54
Strategic Planning as Methodical Consequence....Pages 55-74
Montserrat - A Complex System....Pages 75-176
Structuring the Future and Hazard Management - Scenarios as a Participative Planning Method for Reconstruction....Pages 177-189
Living on the Edge of a Volcano -Scenarios for Montserrat....Pages 191-249
”Living with the Unexpected” - Perspectives for a Constructive Dealing with Complexity and Uncertainty....Pages 251-262
Back Matter....Pages 263-287

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This study deals with complexity and uncertainty, thereby focusing on appropriate methods which enable vulnerable communities to cope effectively with natural hazards and disasters. The central goal of the study is an applicable combination of hazard management and development planning. Therefore, the reconstruction process following a disaster is understood as an opportunity for structural changes and self-organisation processes that can foster sustainable development. In this context the potential of scenario planning as an evolutionary and participatory learning approach is addressed. The empirical research concentrates on the time before and during the volcanic crisis on the Caribbean island Montserrat. Particular methods used are a systematic analysis of the case study, more than 200 interviews with stakeholders and citizens - concentrating on resource and hazard perception, as well as the organisation and execution of various scenario workshops.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Theoretical Reflections....Pages 9-54
Strategic Planning as Methodical Consequence....Pages 55-74
Montserrat - A Complex System....Pages 75-176
Structuring the Future and Hazard Management - Scenarios as a Participative Planning Method for Reconstruction....Pages 177-189
Living on the Edge of a Volcano -Scenarios for Montserrat....Pages 191-249
”Living with the Unexpected” - Perspectives for a Constructive Dealing with Complexity and Uncertainty....Pages 251-262
Back Matter....Pages 263-287
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