Connecting theories of cascading disasters and disaster diplomacy

Disaster diplomacy examines how and why disaster-related activities (disaster risk reduction and post-disaster actions) do and do not influence peace and conflict processes, especially whether or not a causal chain can be established between dealing with disaster risk or a disaster and outcomes in peace or conflict. Cascading disasters might provide a useful theoretical framing for mapping out causal pathways for disaster diplomacy. In conceptually exploring the intersection between disaster diplomacy and cascading disasters, this paper concludes that both disaster diplomacy and cascading disasters have limitations because they try to develop focused causal chains which, when examined with respect to the root causes of disasters, are actually multiple, complex, intertwined causal chains. This situation does not obviate analysis or understanding of disaster diplomacy and cascading disasters. It emphasises the need to adopt and retain social perspectives from the root of disaster studies.