This book develops human security not only through extending it to natural disasters, but also by demonstrating how it can be developed by adopting an interdisciplinary approach. To date, the interdisciplinary dimension of human security has not received sufficient attention. The book demonstrates the value of drawing on a wide range of voices and examines the vulnerability of social groups and communities in the event of a disaster, and how they collectively empower themselves to prevent, respond to and recover from disasters.

Christopher Hobson is Assistant Professor, Waseda University, Japan, and Visiting Research Fellow, United Nations University.

Paul Bacon is Associate Professor of International Relations, School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, and Deputy Director of the European Union Institute, Waseda University, Japan.

Robin Cameron is Research Fellow in the School of Global, Urban and Social Sciences, RMIT University and Program Manager for Human Security & Disasters at RMIT Global Cities Research Institute, Australia.

1. Incorporating Natural Disasters into the Human Security Agenda 2. Human Security after the shock: Vulnerability and Empowerment 3. Human Security and Disasters: What a Gender Lens Offers 4. The Ethics of Disaster and Hurricane Katrina: Human Security, Homeland Security, and Women's Groups 5. Responding to chronic disease needs following disasters: A rethink using the Human Security approach 6. State Negligence before and after Natural Disasters as Human Rights Violations 7. Human Security in the Face of Dual Disasters 8. Linking disasters: human security, conflict and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami 9. Exit Strategy: Human Security, the Social Contract and Liquid Governance in Haiti's Post-Earthquake Reconstruction 10. A More "Human" Human Security: The Importance of Existential Security in Resilient Communities 11. Human Security and Fortuna: Preparing for Natural Disasters