Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Sociology and Disasters
3. Accidents, Disasters and Revelation
4. The New Normal
5. Riskworld? New Species of Trouble
6. Political Economy, I: Capitalism and Disaster
7. Political Economy, II: Capitalism as Disaster
8. Everyday Disaster: Notes on Low Visibility Catastrophe
9. Conclusions

Promotional Information

'A book that drills to the heart of one of the characteristic, but unremarked features of present times: disaster glut. In a richly documented, eminently readable text, Matthewman explodes the twin mystique that disasters are either natural or random events [ ] This is Sociology as it should be: a book that shows how, and why, we are brain-blind about the operation of power and influence in framing our comprehension of the real world [ ] a book to admire and relish by anyone interested in understanding the way we live now.'- Chris Rojek, City University London, UK 'A great read, sharp and entertaining, with an expanded view of disasters. Vivid accounts of familiar and unfamiliar ones are used to open up new theoretical approaches in an under-theorized field. The inclusion of neglected slow, hidden disasters strengthens the emergence of the "new-normal" view and its global significance.'- Charles Perrow, Yale University, US "To those sociologists who have not yet engaged with the issue of disaster you could start nowhere better than with this text." (Sarah Bradshaw, Middlesex University London, UK)

About the Author

Steve Matthewman is Associate Professor in Sociology, Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is an established writer and co-editor, and has over 12 years' experience teaching introductory level sociology courses across various institutions in New Zealand

Reviews

“A very interesting book that reviews a large amount of literature, both theoretical and conceptual, and re-presents this in an accessible manner. … It will be of interest to those working in the field of disasters as it brings together rich description of the work of a number of key researchers into one text. … To those sociologists who have not yet engaged with the issue of disaster, you could start nowhere better than with this text.” (Sarah Bradshaw, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 122 (4), January, 2017)