Policy change after natural hazards : A systematic large-N study using narrative analysis

Abstract: The main purpose of this thesis is to empirically describe the extent to which and how countries affected by natural hazards refer to these natural hazards as drivers for policy change. In order to realize this, a systematic large-N extensive study with the innovative method of narrative analysis was used to analyze the national progress reports on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2013-2015 by searching for the extent to which and how countries affected by natural hazards refer to these natural hazards as drivers for policy change. With a starting point in theories derived from previous research on policy change and natural hazards, focusing events, and policy windows, two positions on the connection of natural hazards and policy change are described. With one position on natural hazards as a driver for policy change and one position as a non-driver for policy change, they are opposing. The results of this study showed that there is an absence of a general pattern regarding the extent to which and how countries affected by natural hazards refer to these natural hazards as drivers for policy change in the national progress reports on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2013-2015. Hence, partial support could be given to both positions on the connection of natural hazards and policy changes. These results are highlighting new potential research openings for future studies.