Sociology, Disasters, and Terrorism: Understanding Threats of the New Millennium

Disaster, Litigation, and the Corrosive Community

“…First, the dichotomy is problematic because disaster researchers are attempting to comprehend the impacts of a third type of large-scale disaster -terrorism (Marshall, Picou & Gill 2003;Waugh 1986;Webb 2002). On one hand, initial responses to the 9/11 attacks were similar to how people and communities typically respond to natural disasters (Webb 2002). On the other hand, factors identified in technological disaster research as causing community breakdown, rather than recovery, are beginning to surface (Marshall, Picou & Gill 2003).…”

An Exploratory Comparison of Disasters, Riots and Terrorist Acts

“…Much the same as other disaster events, in the wake of 11 September there was mass convergence and volunteer activity at the attack scenes (Kendra and Wachtendorf, 2001b;Webb, 2002); thousands of people seen lining up at blood-donation stations across the US; and significant charitable giving received in the form of food, clothing, supplies and money (Turkel, 2002;US General Accounting Office, 2002c).…”

“…Generally, in disaster situations, people respond in a pro-social mode. Examples of post-disaster pro-social behaviour include: initial search and rescue is most often carried out by survivors; victims undertake emergency tasks and help to organise shelters; and despite popular myth, there is relatively little deviant behaviour following a disaster (Fischer, 1998;Tierney et al, 2001;Webb, 2002). In sum, behaviour following a disaster is generally meaningful, goal-oriented, rational and organised (Quarantelli, 1993: 69-70).…”

“…The initial period following 11 September was primarily depicted by the media, and some disaster scholars, as a time of national mourning and public consensus which was characterised by the rush to normalisation (Turkel, 2002) 4 and widespread pro-social behaviour (Alexander, 2002;Cohen et al, 2002). Much the same as other disaster events, in the wake of 11 September there was mass convergence and volunteer activity at the attack scenes (Kendra and Wachtendorf, 2001b;Webb, 2002); thousands of people seen lining up at blood-donation stations across the US; and significant charitable giving received in the form of food, clothing, supplies and money (Turkel, 2002;US General Accounting Office, 2002c).…”

Media Coverage and Solidarity after Tragedies: The Reporting of School Shootings in Two Nations

“…Research has also clearly established that the social support that emerges from this solidarity is important for recovering from traumatic events (Galea and Vlahov 2005;Ruzek et al 2007;van Ommeren, Shekhar and Benedetto 2005;Walsh 2007;Hawdon and Ryan 2012a). However, tragedies and disasters do not always produce social solidarity (see Ryan and Hawdon 2008;Hawdon and Ryan 2012b;Webb 2002;Nurmi 2012); therefore, it is critical to understand what leads to the emergence of social solidarity after such events.…”