The purpose of this special of Sociologia Urbana e Rurale (Urban and Rural Sociology) is to introduce a significant overview of Italian sociologists’ reflections on the topic of disasters. The use of English language aims at facilitating the circulation of such articles within today’s multidisciplinary, international scientific community. In fact, although Italian sociological literature on the topics of risk, emergencies and short- and long-term consequences of disasters has remarkably grown over the last four decades, most of the texts are in Italian language, which undoubtedly limits their impact on a worldwide scale. Though Italian sociologists do not exclusively deal with calamities affecting their own country, the latter has been the main focus of their studies. On the other hand, as is known, Italy is -at least in Europe- one of the most risk-exposed countries in terms both of natural disasters (the peninsula is largely seismic) and in terms of its particular building heritage and weak prevention policies. The articles included in this issue focus on the catastrophes affecting the country from the ’60s to date - from the Vajont disaster (1963), to the earthquakes in Belice (1968), Friuli (1976), Irpinia (1980), Abruzzo (2009) and Emilia (2012) - decades in which sociological disciplines have progressively grown hand in hand with the attention to social, economic, political and cultural implications of environmental problems. In order to better frame the contents of this issue within the wider debate on the subject of disasters, we deemed appropriate to start this introduction article with a brief reconstruction of the sociological reflection on the topic, putting it in relation to the changes that took place in intervention strategies in the event of a calamity. Later in this article, it will be stressed how a territory- oriented approach, whose importance and actuality are undeniable, could highlight both the specific character of each context affected by catastrophes and the peculiar composition of the different forms of capital on it. In doing so, the latest seismic events that hit Italy will be included in the analysis.
"Vulnerable italy": between academic debate and a moltitude of social and political actors
OLORI, DAVIDE
2017
Abstract
The purpose of this special of Sociologia Urbana e Rurale (Urban and Rural Sociology) is to introduce a significant overview of Italian sociologists’ reflections on the topic of disasters. The use of English language aims at facilitating the circulation of such articles within today’s multidisciplinary, international scientific community. In fact, although Italian sociological literature on the topics of risk, emergencies and short- and long-term consequences of disasters has remarkably grown over the last four decades, most of the texts are in Italian language, which undoubtedly limits their impact on a worldwide scale. Though Italian sociologists do not exclusively deal with calamities affecting their own country, the latter has been the main focus of their studies. On the other hand, as is known, Italy is -at least in Europe- one of the most risk-exposed countries in terms both of natural disasters (the peninsula is largely seismic) and in terms of its particular building heritage and weak prevention policies. The articles included in this issue focus on the catastrophes affecting the country from the ’60s to date - from the Vajont disaster (1963), to the earthquakes in Belice (1968), Friuli (1976), Irpinia (1980), Abruzzo (2009) and Emilia (2012) - decades in which sociological disciplines have progressively grown hand in hand with the attention to social, economic, political and cultural implications of environmental problems. In order to better frame the contents of this issue within the wider debate on the subject of disasters, we deemed appropriate to start this introduction article with a brief reconstruction of the sociological reflection on the topic, putting it in relation to the changes that took place in intervention strategies in the event of a calamity. Later in this article, it will be stressed how a territory- oriented approach, whose importance and actuality are undeniable, could highlight both the specific character of each context affected by catastrophes and the peculiar composition of the different forms of capital on it. In doing so, the latest seismic events that hit Italy will be included in the analysis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
