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Local politicians as linking social capital: an empirical test of political behavior after Japan’s 3/11 disasters

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  • Daniel P. Aldrich

    (Northeastern University, Security and Resilience Studies Program)

  • Yoshikuni Ono

    (School of Law, Tohoku University)

Abstract

After a massive catastrophe, local decision makers have a large number of potential sources of advice and assistance. Yet, we know little about those to whom politicians reach out at the local, regional, and national levels, and what drives the intensity of contact with these targets. Using original survey data drawn from more than 240 council members from cities, towns, and villages in the Tohoku region of Japan, we investigate the factors influencing consultation after the March 11, 2011, compounded disasters. We find strong variation in their outreach to actors, including national-level politicians, governors, prefectural politicians, civil servants, and local constituents. Controlling for a number of compounding factors, such as town size, financial capability, and personal characteristics of the politician, we find that the degree of damage in their own communities robustly influences outreach after crisis. The more damage, the more local politicians reach out to a broader network of potentially useful connections more often. Partisan and independent town council members behave differently; those with party connections (especially those with connections to a governing party) reach out more than those without. Our findings about diversity and intensity of outreach bring important implications for residents, politicians, and non-governmental organizations after disaster.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel P. Aldrich & Yoshikuni Ono, 2016. "Local politicians as linking social capital: an empirical test of political behavior after Japan’s 3/11 disasters," 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. 84(3), pages 1637-1659, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:84:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-016-2503-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-016-2503-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William duPont IV & Ilan Noy & Yoko Okuyama & Yasuyuki Sawada, 2015. "The Long-Run Socio-Economic Consequences of a Large Disaster: The 1995 Earthquake in Kobe," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
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    4. William duPont IV & Ilan Noy & Yoko Okuyama & Yasuyuki Sawada, 2015. "The Long-Run Socio-Economic Consequences of a Large Disaster: The 1995 Earthquake in Kobe," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junfeng Jiang & Peigang Wang, 2020. "Is Linking Social Capital More Beneficial to the Health Promotion of the Poor? Evidence from China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 45-71, January.
    2. Kayleigh Ward, 2021. "Effects of Reconstruction Planning on the Utility of Social Capital in Minamisanriku, Miyagi after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-29, July.

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