Disaster justice: A literature review

Abstract

The unequal effects of disasters on different groups in society are becoming increasingly clear. Disaster justice scholars challenge this inequality by calling for a more equitable allocation of disaster risks, resources, and rights. The concept of ‘disaster justice’ has gained rapid prominence recently, because environmental transformations of our own making are increasingly wreaking havoc. Marginalized and vulnerable communities bear the brunt of the impact of these transformations. This literature review on disaster justice aims to integrate existing findings, identify main research themes, and explore knowledge gaps. The review is based on 43 publications, which discuss five main themes: 1) the conceptualization and operationalization of disaster justice, 2) marginalized groups, 3) disaster roots and disaster risk creation, 4) disaster governance, and 5) justice struggles. The review demonstrates that disaster justice research helps scholars systematically explore alternative disaster management approaches and practices that reduce the vulnerability of marginalized groups and render disaster outcomes more just. In future research, disaster justice scholars could engage more with other work on disaster management reform, offer insight into how different types of justice – distributive, recognitional, and procedural – interact, and analyze how discrimination within disaster organizations can pose barriers to meaningful societal change.