The Sociology of Katrina: Perspectives on a Modern Catastrophe
This second edition constitutes further in depth learning from the most destructive collision in American history between nature's hazard and socially constructed vulnerability, knowledge that is essential as societies head toward more confrontations. (Raymond Murphy, President, Environment and Society Research Committee of the International Sociological Association; emeritus professor of sociology)From so many vantage points come clear and well formulated descriptions and analyses of Katrina and the consequences — many of them dire — of this unnatural event. Anyone who wants to know about Katrina, or indeed disaster of any sort, needs to read this important and authoritative book. (Harvey Molotch, New York University)The 'natural' disaster of Hurricane Katrina was also a major sociological event. Issues of who suffered most, the way damage was assessed, how response organized and the nature of the rebuilding effort were all shaped by social factors. This book gives an important overview, addressing concerns from the role of race and class in shaping impact to the role of religion in shaping response. It will be useful to students and researchers and should be read widely as Americans try to learn from the Katrina catastrophe. (Craig Calhoun, president, Social Science Research Council)The book is a collection of papers presented at the 2006 Southern Sociological Society meeting in New Orleans, updated with new chapters added for this second edition in 2010.(Solidarity)