Public Policy and the Politics of Disaster: New Directions, New Research

Session Submission Type: Virtual Roundtable

Session Description

This roundtable assesses the “state of the field” in disaster politics and public policy. Disasters can open windows of opportunity for policy formation and innovation. Disasters can also move political attitudes and public opinion, enhance or diminish political trust, and shape support for politicians and for public offices and agencies at all levels of government.

Participants will discuss new and forthcoming research, with an emphasis on four interrelated sets of questions:
1. How do policy makers perceive, process, and act on information about disasters and disaster risk (including public opinion)?
2. What role does public opinion play in shaping pre-event (mitigation, preparedness) and post-event (response, recovery) public policy making?
3. What impact is the COVID-19 pandemic having on disaster politics/policy more broadly?
4. How do these effects vary within and across different communities and countries?

Accomplished scholars of public policy and the politics of disaster will engage with researchers newer to the field (bringing skills and insights developed in other areas). Considered together, these eight scholars have conducted research in/on disasters in dozens of US communities and 32 Latin American/Caribbean countries (as well as Canada, Turkey, Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia). Participants are, in alphabetical order:

Thomas A. Birkland, Professor of Public Policy, Associate Dean for Research and Engagement, NC State University. Author/co-author of 50+ peer-reviewed publications on disaster policy and politics. His 1997 book After Disaster was recently honored with APSA’s Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award for “the best book or article published in the general area of public policy during the past 20-30 years, generating a major impact on the field.”

Jose Miguel Cruz, Director of Research, Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University (FIU). More than 25 years’ experience studying public opinion in the region; former director of Central America’s leading survey research institute. Author/co-author of 15+ peer-reviewed publications.

Rob A. DeLeo, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Bentley University; Visiting Fellow in the Program on Crisis Leadership, Harvard University. Research on preparedness policymaking. Author of a 2015 book and author/co-author of 15+ peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Founding member of interdisciplinary Risk & Social Policy Working Group, examining risk messaging and individual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.

N. Emel Ganapati, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration; Director of the Laboratory for Social Science Research, International Hurricane Research Center, FIU. Author/co-author of 30+ peer-reviewed articles/chapters on disasters and resilience, and on interdisciplinary research methods. PI/co-PI on 10+ funded research grants/projects.

Vincent T. Gawronski, Professor and Chair of Political Science, Birmingham-Southern College. Author/co-author of 10+ peer-reviewed publications on the politics of natural disasters in the US and Latin America.

Barry S. Levitt, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Politics and International Relations, FIU. Fellow, FIU Extreme Events Institute. Author of a 2012 book and 10+ peer-reviewed articles/chapters, several on public opinion and public policy in the Americas. Presently PI/co-PI on two NSF-funded projects on public support for disaster risk reduction policies in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Kristin Taylor, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Wayne State University. Levin Center Research Scholar, 2020-21. Author/co-author of 10+ peer-reviewed publications on public policy and disasters in the United States. PI for NSF-funded project on “Constraints on Policy Learning After Disaster.” Current research on local government decision-making, governmental oversight and disaster resilience.

Richard S. Olson, Director of the Extreme Events Institute and the International Hurricane Research Center, Professor of Politics and International Relations, FIU. Four decades of experience with the politics and policies of disasters. Author/co-author of 30+ peer-reviewed articles/chapters and seven books or major reports on the topic. PI/co-PI on numerous funded research projects on disasters, most recently a major ($4.6 million) grant from the Mellon Foundation on “Race, Risk and Resilience,” to study and build capacity in eight South Florida communities.

Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University. Director of the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP). Author/co-author of three books and 30+ refereed journal articles, several on public opinion in the wake of disasters. PI/co-PI on projects totaling over $20 million, including research on public support for DRR policies in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sub Unit

• Division 25: Public Policy

Chair

• Thomas A. Birkland North Carolina State University

Discussant

• Richard S. Olson Florida International University

Presenters

• Jose Miguel Cruz Florida International University

• Rob A. DeLeo Bentley University

• Nazife Emel Ganapati

• Vincent T. Gawronski Birmingham-Southern College

• Barry S. Levitt Florida International University

• Kristin Taylor Wayne State University

• Elizabeth J. Zechmeister Vanderbilt University