PSCI 24733: Global Disaster Politics Professor Lantis

Spring Semester 2021

Response Paper #3: Disasters and Indigenous and Marginalized Communities

This paper is an opportunity to study disasters and their impact on indigenous and marginalized communities. Drawing on class discussions and our valuable readings, develop a 2-3 page essay that addresses the following issues:

• Identify an indigenous group or marginalized population that has been directly affected by a disaster somewhere in the world (non-U.S. case)?

• What is the group? Where do they reside? What are their distinctive characteristics, culture, and history?

• What was the nature of the disaster they faced/are facing, and how serious was it? • Next, describe the disaster response: How did the country government deal with this? Was

there respect and support for this marginalized group? Why or why not? • How did the group itself or local community respond to the disaster? • Drawing on insights from our class, what lessons do you draw from this example for more

comprehensive disaster response initiatives in the future? Essays should be 2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced, and cite sources carefully. This paper is due by Monday, April 5th, by 10:00 am (Woo-time) and should be submitted through our Moodle portal.