2016, Vol.23, No.3

Disaster Recovery Governance of Japan and International Cooperation: Transnationalism and the Trans-localization

Kim Young-Geun | 2016, 23(3) | pp.5~28 | number of Cited : 0

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The purpose of this paper is to overview Japanese concept of disaster recovery and seek a way for an international cooperation. As the presence of disaster is immanent in the global risk-society, this paper aims to analyze transnational and trans-local activities along with socio-cultural, economic, and political transformations and their process under the global risk-society. Furthermore, this paper contemplates ‘local power’ which is related to the transnationalism, or trans-localization. Therefore, this paper provides issues to be solved and theorizes them by articulating the mechanism of cooperation and confrontation surrounding disaster governance of the global era. The analytic frame of paper introduces the concept of transnationalism and pro-geopolitics and analyzes a structural transformation regarding disaster recovery and revitalization of local area in Asia. As this paper introduces the ‘reversed image’ in the era of transnationalism from the traditional view of government-led process in disaster recovery, the paper presumes that diverse local actors and responses from disaster sight practically give their influence on the state-level of ‘disaster governance’, furthermore, the transnationalization. Thus, the paper attempts to reflect Japanese post-disaster lessons: social fluctuation, risk responses, and recovery efforts, from mega-disaster (1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake & 3.11 East Japan Earthquake) to transnational responses and the local revitalization. By focusing on the trilateral interaction between the local, government, and state, this paper implicates that theoretical verification and a need of new approach for the revitalization from disaster are required to solve surrounding problems from ‘series of complex risk’. A response and solution for the local recovery process must be shared among international community and the construction of a cooperative system is significant. The theory of transnational disaster recovery and the role of academism from the view of disaster study for the revitalization are suggested throughout this paper. Living in the era of transnationalization, the humanity must response to the ‘safety revolution’.

From Responding to the Hyogo and Earthquake Disaster Area: To make Safety, Social Relief

Koji Matsubara | 2016, 23(3) | pp.29~44 | number of Cited : 0

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The Great Hansin-Awaji Earthquake occurred in Hyogo Prefecture twenty years ago. Many people lost their lives and houses, office buildings, and roads were damaged. Many lessons were learnt from the earthquake: the importance of initial action, the community’s preparedness to deal with a disaster, and building earthquake resistant towns. With these lessons in mind, the following assignments are the most important in Hyogo Prefecture. (1) Maintaining a base for large disaster prevention, effective operation of the Phoenix disaster management system, and reinforcing administrative systems through establishing a disaster prevention bureau at Kansai. (2) Promoting independent disaster prevention organizations, reinforcing regional disater prevention through self-help and mutual efforts, such as Hyogo Prefecture’s campaign. (3) Promoting disaster prevention education aimed at children and students. (4) Maintaining a base for international disaster prevention organizations and humanitarian assistance- such as the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, donation projects, and hosting the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. These measure demonstrate that disaster prevention is a priority in Hyogo Prefecture. Moreover, with plans to give new strength to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Hyogo Prefecture is promoting creative plan led by local residents. It is expected that the scale of damage will be reduced through appropriate disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction measures, such as tsunami shelters and earthquake-proof structures, even though the chances of a large scale earthquake occurring are high, as Hyogo Prefecture is along the Nankai Through. Hyogo Prefecture has made active efforts to improve the land. In the future, Hyogo Prefecture will try to contribute to disaster prevention by sharing information with other regions of Northeast Asia.

The Threats of Natural and Technogenic Hazards in the Russian Far East as a Part of Northeastern Asia and the Directions of International Cooperation

Petr Baklanov , A. N. Kachur | 2016, 23(3) | pp.45~70 | number of Cited : 0

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High probability of natural catastrophes in the Russian Far East and in Northeast Asia as a whole is connected with their geographical position at the interface of Eurasia and two oceans: the Arctic and Pacific oceans. The threats of natural catastrophes caused by the extreme natural processes, such as volcanism and earthquakes, tsunami, storms, cyclones, typhoons and flooding are singled out. The threats of technogenic catastrophes connected with possible spills of oil and oil products, with forest fires, with extraction of natural resources on the sea-bottom are distinguished. Specific threats are connected with the trans-boundary transfer of the water and air contamination into the trans-boundary watersheds of the rivers (the Amur River, the Tumen River, and others) and into the seas (the Sea of Japan – the East Sea). The paper gives the examples of natural catastrophes – the extreme flooding in the Amur River watershed (July - August, 2013) and technogenic catastrophes - extreme technogenic contamination of the Sungari River (December, 2005). A small-scale natural-economic zoning of the Russian Far East, including identification of four zones with various danger to economic activities, and fractional natural-economic zoning, including identification of 24 areas with the different combinations of possible extreme processes, are carried out. The projects of UNEP on protection of the sea environment in the Northwest Pacific, including the sea oil spills, contamination of the seas by other kinds of technogenic substances, the trans-boundary transfer of air contamination and others are considered. The directions of the international cooperation on minimization of the negative consequences of natural and technogenic catastrophes, including the conclusion of the international contracts on the trans-boundary watersheds (rivers, lakes, and seas), the formation of the joint international programs, commissions, insurance funds, and monitoring systems are offered.

Different Historical Prisms and Regressive Political Reconciliation in Northeast Asia

JA HYUN Chun , 조영철 | 2016, 23(3) | pp.71~107 | number of Cited : 0

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A Theoretical Analysis of the International Multilateral Negotiations for Creating the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Kim Hyun | 2016, 23(3) | pp.109~156 | number of Cited : 2

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The Shifting Migrant Identity of Korean Huaqiao between China and Taiwan: A Case Study of Huaqiao Associations in Seoul

Kim Kiho | 2016, 23(3) | pp.157~189 | number of Cited : 9

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Managerial Ownership and Corporate Performances in China

CHEN BIN , Lee Ki-Seong | 2016, 23(3) | pp.191~219 | number of Cited : 1

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A Comparative Study on Determining a Key Player of the Halal Certification Policy between Indonesia and Malaysia: Focusing on political factors

Jung Hoon PARK | 2016, 23(3) | pp.221~261 | number of Cited : 5

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Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.61

2016, Vol.23, No.3