State Repression in Post-Disaster Societies

'Clair Apodaca provides a fascinating account of the relationship between the natural world and the political world. As she painstakingly shows, natural disasters have had a profound effect on politics, especially in non-democratic states. In some instances this has led to the overthrow of the old order. However, at other times the government has responded to the public dissatisfaction of its response with even more repression. As climate change increases, the book’s timing could not be better – nor its message more important.' - Mark Gibney, Carol G. Belk Distinguished Professor in Humanities, University of North Carolina Asheville

'When natural disasters strike, the world’s attention becomes focused on the human tragedy that ensues, and the international community mobilizes to get emergency relief to the affected areas. All too often, though, the TV cameras leave, sympathy fatigue sets in, and the world’s attention shifts to the next crisis, leaving the victims to rebuild at best they can. Clair Apodaca shines a light on one troubling phenomenon that occurs in the aftermath of some of these events: the rise in repression and human rights violations by the government of the affected nation. Apodaca painstakingly traces out a causal process by which dissident movements can arise in the aftermath of natural disasters, the types of regimes under which such movements are likely to arise, and how, when faced with such challenges, which regime types are likely to respond with repression rather than some form of accommodation. Her analysis reveals that NGOs play a crucial role in this process by enabling affected populations in solving the collective action problems that, amid the conditions of a natural disaster, would otherwise preclude social movements by those most affected by the disaster but least served by the emergency aid from the international community. The story is compelling and the empirical tests are rigorous and convincing. This is an important work that creates an intersection between such diverse fields as human rights and state repression, social movements, and emergency management.' - T. David Mason, Regents Professor and Johnie Christian Family Peace Professor, University of North Texas