A disaster in the making : a study of the injustice of disaster capitalism as a recovery tool

Abstract

This thesis explores injustice in disaster recovery. Naomi Klein’s theory of the shock doctrine explains how disaster capitalism becomes a recovery tool in times of extreme distress or disaster. With growing environmental concerns, disaster capitalism is becoming more commonplace when addressing disaster management after a natural disaster. Qualitative research and an extended literature review compared the impact and management tactics in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy and in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. This thesis critiques Klein’s work and challenges the notion that a disaster must be a “shock” to a system. Instead, it suggests that disasters can reinforce the status quo and, continuing Klein’s theory, promote the manipulation of a community after a disaster. The comparative study of post-hurricane disaster management in New Jersey and Puerto Rico exposed that disaster capitalism played a critical role in recovery and exposed systemic trends that reinforce environmental racism and green gentrification.