Theoretical contributions for a demography of disasters in Brazil

Abstract

Demographic changes, associated with the complexity of contemporary environmental problems such as global environmental changes and technological disasters, will make the social (re)production of risks and associated disasters increasingly permanent. The article proposes reflections that position Demography, particularly in the Brazilian context, in order to incorporate these challenges into its concepts, theories, analyses and methodologies, consolidating the field of knowledge in Demography of Disasters. The strategy initially chosen was to revisit concepts in population and environment studies, such as risks, damages, disasters, vulnerability, adaptation and resilience. We reviewed the literature produced on Demography of Disasters, emphasizing the endogenous relationship between disasters and demographic composition, distribution and dynamics. Then, we proposed a theoretical framework on Demography of Disasters, and its operationalization in seven principles. Finally, we discuss how, both from a conceptual and theoretical point of view, as well as from a methodological standpoint, demography plays a fundamental role in consolidating a scientific perspective that antagonizes discourses of “naturalization” of disasters and, consequently, contributes to creating or improving public policies and management and planning before, during and after disasters.

Keywords:
Disasters; Impacts; Vulnerability; Adaptation; Demography of Disasters