Build Back Better, Even Before Disaster – Adaptive Design of Communicative Process, Place and Practice

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Eastern Japan Earthquake in 2011, the Sendai Framework for Action introduced a new task called ‘Build Back Better (B3)’. This study discusses this new task and proposes an extended framework which strategically includes a pre-disaster period. This extended framework is named ‘Build Back Better, even Before Disaster (B⁴)’. The following points are observed:

• (i)

  SMART Governance under Persistent Disruptive Stressors (PDS) proposed by Okada offers an effective new methodology for systematically studying B⁴ problems.

• (ii)

  For the purpose of actual practice and social implementation, we need to set up, then foster and repeatedly activate a communicative place, where participants meet openly, plan and act together step by step.

• (iii)

  The place can be very small in size, particularly at the start but needs to be adaptively designed and recreated though a communicative process.

• (iv)

  Yonmenkaigi System Method (YSM) serves as a useful media and tool for place-making and process design for involving stakeholders in making collaborative action development towards win–win solutions.

Finally, we consider the Case of the Merapi Volcano region in Indonesia to establish the above points.

Citation

Okada, N. (2021), "Build Back Better, Even Before Disaster – Adaptive Design of Communicative Process, Place and Practice", Chatterji, M. and Gangopadhyay, P. (Ed.) New Frontiers in Conflict Management and Peace Economics: With a Focus on Human Security (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 29), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 27-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-832320210000029003