IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jscscx/v3y2014i1p142-159d33555.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Local Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change. A Comparison of Lübeck and Rostock

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriela B. Christmann

    (Research Department 3 Dynamics of Communication, Knowledge and Spatial Development, Leibniz Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning, Flakenstraße 28–31, Erkner 15537, Germany)

  • Karsten Balgar

    (Disaster Research Unit, Institute for Ethnology, Free University of Berlin, Carl-Heinrich-Becker Weg 6–10, Berlin 12165, Germany)

  • Nicole Mahlkow

    (Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science, Free University of Berlin, Ihnestraße 22, Berlin 14195, Germany)

Abstract

Climate change is globally defined as a “reality”. This does not mean however that the way in which it is understood is the same all over the world. Rather, perceptions may differ at different places and times, even if physical and geographical conditions are similar. For the time being, this phenomenon has not been dealt with on a theoretical-conceptual level. The article will address this desiderate. Based on the approaches of social constructivism as well as actor-network theory, a theoretical concept will be suggested as a heuristic model for empirical analysis. By the examples of Lübeck and Rostock, two cities on Germany’s Baltic coast, it will be shown that climate change related perceptions of vulnerability and resilience may build on physical-material aspects but that they are above all considerably interwoven with specific cultural and social patterns of interpretation. In the framework of the local discourse in Lübeck, it is the strong Hanseatic tradition which consumes the climate change issue, whereas in Rostock it is the problems and historical breaks of a transformation society which shape the way of viewing climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriela B. Christmann & Karsten Balgar & Nicole Mahlkow, 2014. "Local Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change. A Comparison of Lübeck and Rostock," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:142-159:d:33555
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/1/142/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/1/142/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Margarethe Kusenbach & Jason Simms & Graham Tobin, 2010. "Disaster vulnerability and evacuation readiness: coastal mobile home residents in Florida," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(1), pages 79-95, January.
    2. Karen O'Brien & Siri Eriksen & Lynn P. Nygaard & Ane Schjolden, 2007. "Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 73-88, January.
    3. R. K. Pachauri & Sujata Gupta, 2002. "Editorial," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(2-3), pages 127-128, September.
    4. Christmann, Gabriela B. & Ibert, Oliver & Kilper, Heiderose & Moss, Timothy, 2012. "Vulnerability and Resilience from a Socio-Spatial Perspective: Towards a Theoretical Framework," IRS Working Papers 45, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).
    5. R. Purdy, 2002. "Editorial," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 1-2, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Greg Oulahen & Linda Mortsch & Erin O’Connell & Deborah Harford & Alexandra Rutledge, 2019. "Local practitioners’ use of vulnerability and resilience concepts in adaptation to flood hazards," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 41-58, March.
    2. Xiufen Li & Lining Song & Zunbo Xie & Tian Gao & Tingting Wang & Xiao Zheng & Jiang Liu & Limin Liu, 2021. "Assessment of Ecological Vulnerability on Northern Sand Prevention Belt of China Based on the Ecological Pressure–Sensibility–Resilience Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Mathias Schaefer & Nguyen Xuan Thinh & Stefan Greiving, 2020. "How Can Climate Resilience Be Measured and Visualized? Assessing a Vague Concept Using GIS-Based Fuzzy Logic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    4. Gérard Hutter & Markus Leibenath & Annika Mattissek, 2014. "Governing Through Resilience? Exploring Flood Protection in Dresden, Germany," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Heidi Toivonen, 2022. "Themes of climate change agency: a qualitative study on how people construct agency in relation to climate change," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Salomón Kalmanovitz & Enrique López, 2003. "La Agricultura En Colombia Entre 1950 Y 2000," Borradores de Economia 2937, Banco de la Republica.
    2. Frank H. Westerhoff & Cristian Wieland, 2004. "Spillover Dynamics of Central Bank Interventions," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 5(4), pages 435-450, November.
    3. Swallow, Brent, 2005. "Potential for Poverty Reduction Strategies to Address Community Priorities: Case Study of Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 301-321, February.
    4. Roald A.A. Suurs & Marko P. Hekkert, 2008. "Cumulative causation in the formation of a technological innovation system: The case of biofuels in the Netherlands," Innovation Studies Utrecht (ISU) working paper series 08-04, Utrecht University, Department of Innovation Studies, revised Feb 2008.
    5. João Ribeiro Butiam Có, 2010. "Representação e confinação de estruturas sociais na Guiné-Bissau: uma abordagem sobre conflitos e consensos," Working Papers wp112010, SOCIUS, Research Centre in Economic and Organisational Sociology at the School of Economics and Management (ISEG) of the University of Lisbon.
    6. Francisco J. Mas & Juan Luis Nicolau, 2004. "Stochastic Choice Analysis Of Tourism Destinations," Working Papers. Serie AD 2004-07, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    7. Estrada G., Fernando, 2011. "The logic of the violence in the civil war: The armed conflict in Colombia," Perfil de Coyuntura Económica, Universidad de Antioquia, CIE, June.
    8. Eric W. K. Tsang & Bruno S. Frey, 2006. "The as-is journal review process: Let authors own their ideas," CREMA Working Paper Series 2006-09, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    9. Fernando, Estrada, 2010. "Sencillez y explicación en la teoría económica [Simplicity and explanation in the economic theory]," MPRA Paper 20669, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Helmut Seitz, 2008. "Democratic Participation and the Size of Regions: An Empirical Study Using Data on German Counties," CESifo Working Paper Series 2197, CESifo.
    11. Tomás Fontalvo Herrera & José Morelos Gómez, 2012. "Evaluación de la gestión financiera: empresas del sector automotriz y actividades conexas en el Atlántico," Dimensión Empresarial, Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, December.
    12. Muchada Suárez, Alejandro, 2010. "'Housing Without Housing' en Marruecos," Entelequia. Revista Interdisciplinar, Entelequia y Servicios Académicos Intercontinentales SL, issue 12, pages 235-248, Fall.
    13. Arevilca Vasquez, Bismarck Javier & Risso Charquero, Adrian Winston, 2007. "Balance of Payments Constrained Growth Model: Evidence for Bolivia 1953-2002," MPRA Paper 5685, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Francisco J. Mas & Juan Luis Nicolau, 2004. "Heckit Modelling Of The Two-Stage Tourist Choice Process: Going On Holiday And Tourism Expenditures," Working Papers. Serie EC 2004-16, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    15. Freire González, Paulo Alejandro & Vivar Aguilar, Mayra Isabel & Maldonado, Diego, 2010. "Un nuevo enfoque para el análisis y calificación del Sistema Cooperativo Ecuatoriano [A new approach to the analysis and rating Ecuadorian Cooperative System]," MPRA Paper 21463, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 05 Mar 2010.
    16. Ana María Iregui & Ligia Melo & Jorge Ramos, 2006. "La educación en Colombia: Análisis del marco normativo y de los indicadores sectoriales," Revista de Economía del Rosario, Universidad del Rosario, December.
    17. Alzate, Mónica M. & Rosenthal, James A., 2009. "Gender and ethnic differences for Hispanic children referred to child protective services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 1-7, January.
    18. Estrada, Fernando, 2010. "Epistemology of the economy: comments from Robert Nozick," MPRA Paper 22410, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Francisco J. Mas & Juan Luis Nicolau, 2004. "A Random Parameter Logit Approach To The Two-Stage Tourist Choice Process: Going On Holidays And Length Of Stay," Working Papers. Serie AD 2004-46, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    20. Anantharaman, Divya, 2012. "Comparing self-regulation and statutory regulation: Evidence from the accounting profession," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 55-77.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:142-159:d:33555. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.