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Pinning down vulnerability: from narratives to numbers
Author(s) -
Mustafa Daanish,
Ahmed Sara,
Saroch Eva,
Bell Heather
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01193.x
Subject(s) - vulnerability (computing) , vulnerability index , narrative , vulnerability assessment , social vulnerability , adaptive capacity , adaptation (eye) , function (biology) , poison control , scale (ratio) , index (typography) , climate change , sociology , environmental resource management , environmental planning , social psychology , political science , psychology , computer security , geography , computer science , environmental health , psychological resilience , economics , medicine , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , cartography , neuroscience , evolutionary biology , world wide web , biology
Social vulnerability analyses have typically relied upon narratives to capture the nuances of the concept. While narratives have enhanced our understanding of the multiple drivers of vulnerability, they have had limited influence on hazards and climate adaptation policy. This is partially a function of the different needs and goals of the policy and research communities. The former prioritises generalised quantitative information, while the latter is more concerned with capturing complexity. A theoretically driven and empirically tested quantitative vulnerability and capacities index (VCI) for use at the local scale is presented to help connect vulnerability research and policy. There are four versions of the index for use in rural and urban contexts at the household and community levels. There can be an infinite number of drivers of vulnerability, but the VCI draws upon 12 indicators to represent material, institutional and attitudinal aspects of differential vulnerability and capacities.