Description
A complex combination of natural hazards and human conditions, socio-natural disasters are the impact of natural forces that have severe consequences on vulnerable human populations and their possessions. To be affected a society must be vulnerable, situation that may occur by the rising of social conflicts, which are not always on a large scale, rather and in most cases, they remain in a micro sphere. This paper explores the relationship between micro social conflict and silent and long-winded disasters (as draughts), through two case studies from Coquimbo, Chile: Water management's conflict in time of droughts at Pan de Azúcar and Territorial belonging in areas of water scarcity, the case of Diaguitas. In order to achieve this, qualitative exploratory and descriptive research was conducted using a literature review, interviews, surveys and ethnographic work. The analysis demonstrates that micro conflicts can aggravates disaster’s effects and, at the same time, disaster may deepen and expand conflict. It also shows that both -conflicts and disasters- has an intrinsically social foundation thus, none is generated by external conditions and how to address them relies more on social action and agency rather than technical response. From a reflective sight, the research explores the need by conflict studies scholars of not neglect the study of micro conflicts and reflected on how slow and silent socio-natural disasters, such as droughts, may have an impact sometimes greater and deeper than more explosive disasters, therefore they should be considerate by humanitarian agencies and scholarships in a special way.| Period | 7 Mar 2016 |
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| Event title | World Conference on Humanitarian Studies |
| Event type | Other |
| Location | Addis Ababa, EthiopiaShow on map |
Research programs
- EUR-ISS-GGSJ
- EUR-ISS-CIRI