LAWI301626 Politics of natural hazards and risk governance

Type
Lecture and seminar
Semester hours
1.5
Lecturer (assistant)
Papathoma-Köhle, Maria
Organisation
Mountain Risk Engineering
Offered in
Wintersemester 2026/27
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

This course examines how societies govern natural hazards, risks, and disasters in the context of contemporary environmental and societal change. It introduces the political, institutional, legal, and societal dimensions of risk management and explores how risk-related decisions are made across different governance levels, from the European Union to national, regional, and local authorities.
Building on concepts of risk culture, resilience, adaptation, and risk governance, the course analyses the evolving relationship between state responsibility, private-sector involvement, and individual and collective preparedness. Particular attention is given to European policy frameworks, including the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, climate adaptation policies, and emerging approaches to resilience governance.
Austria serves as an important case study throughout the course, allowing students to critically compare Austrian approaches to natural hazard management with practices in other European countries and regions. The course addresses governance challenges arising from climate change, increasing systemic risks, societal vulnerability, and competing policy objectives.
Previous knowledge expected

Knowledge acquired in the following courses of the Master's programme Alpine Natural Hazards / Torrent and Avalanche Control is beneficial but not required:
•Fundamentals of Natural Hazard Management (VO)
•Natural Hazard Law (VO)
•Communication, Information and Participation (VO)
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
1.Comprehend key concepts and theories of natural hazard policy, risk governance, resilience, and multi-level governance.
2.Analyze and compare European and Austrian approaches to natural hazard risk management and disaster risk reduction.
3.Understand governance challenges arising from climate change, societal vulnerability, and competing policy objectives in the management of natural hazards.
4.Design and justify evidence-based policy strategies and recommendations for improving risk governance and societal resilience.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.