Prepared Together: Stronger Together - Disaster Preparedness and Public Perceptions in Finland, Latvia, and Germany

• In Event: Responses to Contemporary Crises and Change

Abstract

This paper unveils the preliminary findings of the recently launched project, "Prepared Together: Stronger Together," designed to enhance preparedness in the face of an increasingly unpredictable security landscape in the Baltic Sea Region. Focused on fostering inter-regional collaboration among disaster preparedness experts from the northern Baltic, central Baltic, and southern Baltic regions, our research employs a joint survey spanning Finland, Latvia, and Germany. The survey, scheduled for launch in early 2024, utilizes uniformly prepared questions to establish a comprehensive understanding of public concerns, risk perceptions, and disaster preparedness levels within the Baltic Sea Region.

The paper addresses critical inquiries, exploring the population's awareness and readiness to respond to diverse disasters, the obstacles hindering preparedness, and the attitudes and behaviors influencing preparedness levels. By scrutinizing motivations that either promote or impede preparedness, we aim to provide valuable insights into the regional landscape of disaster preparedness. This research contributes to the growing discourse on disaster preparedness by offering a unique perspective and emphasizes the significance of collaborative initiatives in building a more resilient society.

Short Bio

Dr Ieva Birka is the Lead Researcher at the University of Latvia Advanced Social and Political Research Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Latvia, MSc with Merit in Russian and Post-Soviet Studies from the London School of Economics, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Rochester in the United States. She has previously completed post-doctoral projects at the University of Lucerne, and at the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS), Patterns of Prejudice, Diaspora Studies Journal, Journal of Baltic Studies, and the Baltic Journal of Law and Politics, among others.

Dr Didzis Kļaviņš is a Senior Researcher at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Social Sciences and Advanced Social and Political Research Institute (ASPRI). Didzis has obtained a Ph.D. in International Politics at the University of Latvia. He holds the Europaeum’s M.A. in European History and Civilisation, jointly offered by Leiden University, Université Paris I—Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the University of Oxford. He has also studied at Uppsala University, the University of Oslo, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is the author and co-author of several publications focusing on changes in diplomacy and foreign policy. His research interests include: the transformation of diplomacy, innovations, artificial intelligence (AI) and diaspora diplomacy.

Authors

• Ieva Birka, University of Latvia

• Didzis Kļaviņš, University of Latvia