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Better understanding disasters by better using history: Systematically using the historical record as one way to advance research into disasters

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  • Bas van Bavel
  • Daniel Curtis

Abstract

This papers argues that the understanding of causes and effects of hazards and shocks could be furthered by making more explicit and systematic use of the historical record, that is, by using ‘the past’ as a laboratory to test hypotheses in a careful way. History lends itself towards this end because of the opportunity it offers to identify distinct and divergent social structures existing very close to one another on a regional level and the possibility this creates of making comparisons between societal responses to shocks spatially and chronologically. Furthermore, the basic richness of the historical record itself enables us to make a long-term reconstruction of the social, economic and cultural impact of hazards and shocks simply not possible in contemporary disaster studies material.

Suggested Citation

  • Bas van Bavel & Daniel Curtis, 2015. "Better understanding disasters by better using history: Systematically using the historical record as one way to advance research into disasters," Working Papers 0068, Utrecht University, Centre for Global Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucg:wpaper:0068
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    2. Grazia Brunetta & Rosario Ceravolo & Carlo Alberto Barbieri & Alberto Borghini & Francesca de Carlo & Alfredo Mela & Silvia Beltramo & Andrea Longhi & Giulia De Lucia & Stefano Ferraris & Alessandro P, 2019. "Territorial Resilience: Toward a Proactive Meaning for Spatial Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Bas Bavel & Marten Scheffer, 2021. "Historical effects of shocks on inequality: the great leveler revisited," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Stefano Salata & Silvia Ronchi & Carolina Giaimo & Andrea Arcidiacono & Giulio Gabriele Pantaloni, 2021. "Performance-Based Planning to Reduce Flooding Vulnerability Insights from the Case of Turin (North-West Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, May.

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    Keywords

    Institutions; History; Methodology; Comparative; Disasters;
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