The Wenchuan earthquake, which struck Sichuan province and other areas of southwest China on 12 May 2008, stands as one of the worst disasters in modern Chinese history. The post-earthquake recovery has been widely regarded as a state-centric process, primarily due to the dominant role played by the Chinese government throughout all stages of the recovery. Chinese military forces were promptly dispatched to the most affected regions, saving numerous lives. Essential supplies were immediately provided to the victims, temporary housing and facilities were swiftly erected to shelter the displaced and to continue education, and governmental subsidies were extended to the most vulnerable populations for temporary sustenance. Significant financial resources were allocated towards the reconstruction of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals and schools, as well as urban and rural permanent housing and industrial facilities, within a three-year period following the earthquake. What lessons has China gleaned from the post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery? How can China's experiences contribute to global issues of disaster prevention and reconstruction? The edited volume Reconstructing Resilient Communities after the Wenchuan Earthquake by Junko Otani compiles contributions from both eminent and emerging scholars and endeavours to tackle these inquiries through qualitative research methods, focusing on data collection from interviews, field observations and governmental documents. Otani's introductory chapter adopts the “Kyosei” perspective to illustrate how a more interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach could be helpful to “depict the globalization of modern society by examining China” (p. 5).
Each essay in the collection delineates specific facets of the recovery efforts following the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes in Sichuan province, China. In chapter one, Junko Otani delineates the various policies and regulations enacted by the Chinese government to facilitate the post-earthquake recovery, emphasizing documents such as the Wenchuan County Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction Ordinance and the National Wenchuan County Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction Comprehensive Plan, as well as a counterpart support policy. The chapter elucidates how the experiences from Wenchuan have contributed to the revision of national-level disaster reconstruction planning policies. Although the state-led response to earthquake-affected areas during the rescue and temporary resettlement phase was swift and largely effective, a more daunting challenge than the immediate response lies in the post-earthquake reconstruction phase. Chapter one sheds light on a range of issues related to resource allocation and the fulfilment of residents’ needs that have surfaced during the rapid development of quake-affected areas.
The collection underscores the significance of addressing the needs of vulnerable populations during disaster recovery. The unprecedented and vigorous civil response to the earthquake heralded a new era of NGOs in China, with their significant roles in aiding vulnerable groups being conspicuous. Chapter two, co-authored by Yumei Zhang and Junko Otani, explores the evolution of a grassroots NGO, initially formed to provide psychological support to mothers who had lost their only child in the Wenchuan earthquake, into a registered legal NGO. This NGO not only caters to disaster-affected children but has also championed the concept of “resident self-help” throughout the recovery phases of both the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes. The case study demonstrates that NGOs can serve as specialist resources for enhancing the efficiency and quality of disaster reconstruction.
The elderly are frequently among the most adversely affected demographic groups in the aftermath of a disaster. Chapter three, by Jing Li, scrutinizes the mental health of older adults residing in a public welfare facility in Dujiangyan City. This examination involves a comparison between earthquake-affected older adults categorized as “three-none” (those lacking income, family and work ability) and their counterparts who neither classified as “three-none” nor affected by the earthquake. The study examines the prolonged psychological impact on the elderly, emphasizing the necessity of sustained mental health support. Chapter five, by Yixuan Wang, centres on the Tibetan Qiang ethnic minority. This group garnered significant attention due to the severe damage incurred to the areas where they lived and the vulnerability of their indigenous culture. Field surveys conducted in Mao County, Sichuan province, revealed that despite intentional efforts by the government to preserve and foster local culture during earthquake reconstruction, “the development of commerce and tourism has resulted in distortions in and changes to the Qiang culture” (p. 171).
The remaining chapters delve into research on disaster prevention education in China after the Wenchuan earthquake. Chapter four, by Xin Gao, investigates the development of dark tourism in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County. The survey findings indicate that the objective of disaster prevention has not been attained primarily for two reasons: firstly, the response to the Wenchuan earthquake served as a platform for the Chinese government to bolster its legitimacy, consequently prioritizing nationalism above all else in the development of dark tourism; secondly, the tourists exhibit low motivation and awareness regarding disaster prevention. Yixuan Chen's chapter further explores this topic by examining the collaboration among various stakeholders (such as schools, NGOs, disaster museums, etc.), and highlights challenges in disaster prevention education within both the school system and communities. The book concludes with personal narratives from experts hailing from mainland China and Japan, presented through several appendices.
It is not an easy task for an edited collection to convey a coherent portrayal of Chinese society. The editor endeavours to achieve this by embracing an inclusive, broad-based definition of resilience, which encompasses the diverse aspects of disaster recovery discussed above. While the compilation provides a comprehensive overview of recovery efforts, it predominantly offers descriptive insights rather than analytical conclusions, somewhat limiting its theoretical contributions. Nonetheless, this collection will serve as a crucial reference for not only students of China, but also those engaged in disaster studies. Furthermore, policymakers and individuals intending to dedicate themselves to disaster prevention and recovery efforts will find this book to be an enriching resource.
