Disaster justice

In search of disaster justice: Why recognition matters?

Justice in the context of disasters is important but under-theorised. Many theories of justice highlight that the ideas of redistribution of goods, rights and resources are important, but a growing body of scholarship exists to counter that justice is not only about the proper distribution of a predefined set of rights and goods. The decisions about the value of these goods, rights and liberties are defined by dominant interests, power relations, value structures and cultures of society. Scholars such as Nancy Fraser argue that issues such as inequality, exclusion, representation, marginalisation, and scales define and perpetuate injustices, and that these must be called into question to give voice to claims for “recognition”. This research project investigates the practice of disaster recovery in Nepal, India and Australia, and analyses ‘redistribution’ aspects of disaster recovery, and explains possibilities and limits of ‘redistribution’, thereby highlighting challenges and opportunities for ‘recognition’.