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Local Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change. A Comparison of Lübeck and Rostock

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriela B. Christmann

    (Research Department 3 Dynamics of Communication, Knowledge and Spatial Development, Leibniz Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning, Flakenstraße 28–31, Erkner 15537, Germany)

  • Karsten Balgar

    (Disaster Research Unit, Institute for Ethnology, Free University of Berlin, Carl-Heinrich-Becker Weg 6–10, Berlin 12165, Germany)

  • Nicole Mahlkow

    (Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science, Free University of Berlin, Ihnestraße 22, Berlin 14195, Germany)

Abstract

Climate change is globally defined as a “reality”. This does not mean however that the way in which it is understood is the same all over the world. Rather, perceptions may differ at different places and times, even if physical and geographical conditions are similar. For the time being, this phenomenon has not been dealt with on a theoretical-conceptual level. The article will address this desiderate. Based on the approaches of social constructivism as well as actor-network theory, a theoretical concept will be suggested as a heuristic model for empirical analysis. By the examples of Lübeck and Rostock, two cities on Germany’s Baltic coast, it will be shown that climate change related perceptions of vulnerability and resilience may build on physical-material aspects but that they are above all considerably interwoven with specific cultural and social patterns of interpretation. In the framework of the local discourse in Lübeck, it is the strong Hanseatic tradition which consumes the climate change issue, whereas in Rostock it is the problems and historical breaks of a transformation society which shape the way of viewing climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriela B. Christmann & Karsten Balgar & Nicole Mahlkow, 2014. "Local Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change. A Comparison of Lübeck and Rostock," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:142-159:d:33555
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karen O'Brien & Siri Eriksen & Lynn P. Nygaard & Ane Schjolden, 2007. "Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 73-88, January.
    2. R. Purdy, 2002. "Editorial," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 1-2, March.
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    4. Margarethe Kusenbach & Jason Simms & Graham Tobin, 2010. "Disaster vulnerability and evacuation readiness: coastal mobile home residents in Florida," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(1), pages 79-95, January.
    5. Christmann, Gabriela B. & Ibert, Oliver & Kilper, Heiderose & Moss, Timothy, 2012. "Vulnerability and Resilience from a Socio-Spatial Perspective: Towards a Theoretical Framework," IRS Working Papers 45, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).
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    Cited by:

    1. Mathias Schaefer & Nguyen Xuan Thinh & Stefan Greiving, 2020. "How Can Climate Resilience Be Measured and Visualized? Assessing a Vague Concept Using GIS-Based Fuzzy Logic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    2. Gérard Hutter & Markus Leibenath & Annika Mattissek, 2014. "Governing Through Resilience? Exploring Flood Protection in Dresden, Germany," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Heidi Toivonen, 2022. "Themes of climate change agency: a qualitative study on how people construct agency in relation to climate change," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Greg Oulahen & Linda Mortsch & Erin O’Connell & Deborah Harford & Alexandra Rutledge, 2019. "Local practitioners’ use of vulnerability and resilience concepts in adaptation to flood hazards," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 41-58, March.
    5. Xiufen Li & Lining Song & Zunbo Xie & Tian Gao & Tingting Wang & Xiao Zheng & Jiang Liu & Limin Liu, 2021. "Assessment of Ecological Vulnerability on Northern Sand Prevention Belt of China Based on the Ecological Pressure–Sensibility–Resilience Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, May.

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