Title: Post-earthquake community capacity and vulnerability reduction at the small-scale local level: collective narratives from Greece, Japan, and New Zealand

Authors: Alexander M. Sharpe; Daphne Halkias; Franco Vaccarino; Shawnna Mellesia Hunter

Addresses: Northcentral University, 10000 E. University Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314, USA ' International School of Management, 17, Boulevard Raspail, 75007, Paris, France ' School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Manawatū Campus, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North, New Zealand ' University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK

Abstract: Communities are often overlooked in the course of disaster recovery planning, particularly in the area of social capital resources that can help increase the collective's resilience to risks and hazards. This research explores what collective narratives from the victims of localised earthquake events reveal about community capacity and vulnerability reduction at the small-scale local level. Study participants were recruited from populations living in three earthquake-affected areas in Japan, Greece, and New Zealand. The findings showed varied community and governmental capacity to reduce vulnerability and respond to earthquake events, differing levels of government and community capacity to provide for civil needs, and varied levels of community assistance to residents following the disasters. The implications are that planning and effort within a community can spur development of small-scale capacity to augment government efforts or mitigate government failures. Further research is required to determine applicability to other cultural paradigms and types of disasters.

Keywords: social capital; collective narratives; community capacity; disaster resilience; community vulnerability; earthquake; Greece; Japan; New Zealand.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2017.086677

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2017 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.116 - 132

Received: 23 Nov 2016
Accepted: 06 Apr 2017
Published online: 18 Sep 2017 *

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