ABSTRACT
Further, the social learning that unfolds in the context of socially embedded resources can foster widespread social coordination, but whether the outcomes are socially beneficial or socially perverse depends in good measure on whether the system of market prices is allowed to convey relevant information. Absent robust market signals, non-market signals cannot guarantee that individuals will be in a position to make informed and responsible decisions. In addition to the implications for social theory and policy design, the analysis presented here has implications for communities facing adverse circumstances. As described in Chapters 7 and 8, in extreme conditions, like those created by natural or man-made disaster, the policy environment may not be conducive to a robust community response. Community leaders and ordinary citizens interested in tapping the potential within civil society have much to learn from the varied experiences following Hurricane Katrina. Recognizing the “civil society vacuum” dynamic is key to effective action, particularly for community leaders with the capacity to coordinate relief efforts and provide key community services. Waiting for clarity from local, state, and federal government is likely to generate further confusion and delay and will likely fuel the tendency for government to reoccupy the physical and policy space in lieu of private stakeholders. Given that in general public policy is not designed to tap the potential of civil society, but instead often unintentionally undermines it, this expansion of government’s presence is likely to inhibit bottom-up recovery efforts. The presence of early pioneers and the people they inspire to follow refills the civil society vacuum with private stakeholders who can more appropriately direct the future course of the community. It is worth noting that the MQVN and Broadmoor communities were able to gain traction in the recovery process because they did not abide by the recommendations of city planners and public officials calling for a wait and see approach. Community leaders facing similar circumstances should take note. The second lesson both community leaders and ordinary citizens ought to bear in mind is the role they can play in managing and aligning expectations of those waiting on the sidelines. The first efforts of reconstruction on a neighborhood block, debris removal, cut grass, and so on are not only necessary steps individuals must take to put their plans into action; they are also early signals to residents and other stakeholders that reinvestment is underway. Again, individuals in a position to provide key services have a particularly important role to play in this regard, not just because they help to solve a logistical problem, but because they signal that normal life can eventually be restored. A daycare service, for example, not only solves a critical logistical problem for harried parents juggling the challenges of rebuilding, it also signals that families (and not just construction crews) can direct their energies toward an eventual return. Even if a community leader does not have the capacity to solve key logistical concerns, the signal effect might still be critical in terms of managing expectations of those waiting to return. A church pastor, for example, may not be in a position to offer substantive relief assistance, but the resumption of church services might anchor expectations around the likelihood of community rebound.
