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"Introduction" [2011] ELECD 908; in Alemanno, Alberto (ed), "Governing Disasters" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Governing Disasters

Editor(s): Alemanno, Alberto

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857935724

Section Title: Introduction

Number of pages: 16

Extract:

Introduction
Alberto Alemanno

The specific analytical focus of the volume is the notion of emergency risk
regulation, i.e. regulatory action undertaken in the immediacy of a
disaster in order to mitigate its impact. By retrospectively looking at what
happened during the European volcanic ash crisis and other recent
contingencies, contributors from a variety of disciplines ­ including
sociology, economics, political science, moral philosophy, management,
risk analysis and law ­ consider the regulatory dilemmas characterizing
emergency risk situations. The objective of this edited volume is twofold:
(1) understanding which are the main features and challenges of emer-
gency risk regulation; (2) examining the use of scientific advice and
evidence when authorities are put under great pressure to deal with
atypical situations. Moreover, this volume also has a wider goal. By
generalizing some of the most salient features of the volcanic ash crisis
and other recent emergencies, this book proactively suggests how the
lessons learned can affect other regulatory systems that might be faced
with similar emergencies.
The recent European volcanic ash crisis epitomizes the general problem
of emergency response in a world of uncertain manufactured and natural
risks. A cloud of volcanic ash preventing travelling across an entire
continent probably neither featured in the risk-management scenarios of
many firms nor in the contingency plans of public authorities. Therefore,
it is of no surprise that the immediate and drastic regulatory response that
followed soon became an uneven political dispute between industry
economic power and regulatory science, with consumers caught in the
middle. ...