Lessons of disaster : policy change after catastrophic events / Thomas A. Birkland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Birkland, Thomas A.

Series:

American governance and public policy

American governance and public policy series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political planning--United States.

Political planning.

Aeronautics--Safety measures--Government policy.

Aeronautics--Safety measures.

Natural disasters--Government policy.

Natural disasters.

Disaster relief--Government policy.

Emergency management--Government policy.

Emergency management.

United States.

Policy sciences.

Emergency management--Government policy--United States--Case studies.

Disaster relief--Government policy--United States--Case studies.

Disaster relief.

Natural disasters--Government policy--United States--Case studies.

Aeronautics--Safety measures--Government policy--United States--Case studies.

Aeronautics.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

xviii, 216 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Georgetown University Press, [2006]

Summary:

Even before the wreckage of a disaster is cleared, one question is foremost in the minds of the public: "What can be done to prevent this from happening again?" Events like September 11 and Hurricane Katrina have certainly heightened awareness about problems-particularly gaps in preparation-that might have contributed to or worsened the disasters. Inquiries and investigations are made that claim that "lessons" were "learned" from a disaster, leading us to assume that we will be more ready the next time a similar threat looms, and that our government will put in place measures to protect us.

In Lessons of Disaster, Thomas Birkland takes a critical look at this assumption. We know that disasters play a role in setting policy agendas-in getting policymakers to think about problems-but does our government always take the next step and enact new legislation or regulations? To determine when and how a catastrophic event serves as a catalyst for true policy change, Birkland examines aviation security, homeland security, earthquakes, and hurricanes. He explores lessons learned from each, focusing on policy change.

This timely study concludes with a discussion of the interplay of multiple disasters, examining the initial government response to Hurricane Katrina and the negative effect that the September 11 catastrophe seems to have had on reaction to that tragedy.

Contents:

Theories and models of policy change and learning

September 11, learning, and policy change

Learning from aviation security disasters

Learning from earthquakes and hurricanes

Disaster, learning, and the possibility of change.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-207) and index.

ISBN:

1589011201

9781589011205

158901121X

9781589011212

OCLC:

63390660

Publisher Number:

9781589011205

9781589011212