This theoretical contribution argues that the domination of Western knowledge in disaster scholarship has allowed normative policies and practices of disaster risk reduction to be imposed all over the world. It takes a postcolonial approach to unpack why scholars claim that disasters are social constructs while offering little but theories, concepts and methods supposed to be universal in understanding the unique and diverse experiences of millions of people across very different cultures. It further challenges forms of governments inherited from the Enlightenment that have been rolled out as standard and ultimate solutions to reduce the risk of disaster. Ultimately, the book encourages the emergence of a more diverse set of world views/senses and ways of knowing for both studying disasters and informing policy and practice of disaster risk reduction.

This book is positioned as an essential read for scholars and postgraduate students in disaster studies, as well as policy-makers and practitioners in disaster risk reduction. The work challenges the universality of Western knowledge and methods in disaster scholarship, advocating for a more pluralistic approach that respects diverse local realities and ways of knowing. Its postcolonial lens aims to deconstruct imposed normative policies and governmental forms, encouraging a broader understanding of disaster experiences across different cultures. The book's core argument centers on the necessity of incorporating a wider range of worldviews to effectively inform disaster risk reduction policy and practice.