ABSTRACT
Disaster response has always been relevant for governance, but the potential insights and usefulness of disaster studies are expanded in the Anthropocene, as our relationship with disasters changes. As disasters become the norm, we can draw lessons about how to govern in times of crisis; we can look at the social construction of disasters and imagine how modulating that might affect our resilience to them; and we can consider how to best prepare for and mitigate future emergencies, exploring the link between democracy and disaster preparedness. This article looks at the framing of disasters; participation in disaster governance; mutual aid; and the relationship between disasters and democracy in order to draw lessons for governing in the Anthropocene.
