ASI4001-2122-1-Outline-30Aug2021 ASI4001 Disaster and Crisis Management in Asia

The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Asian Studies: Major Elective
School of Humanities and Social Science Instructor:
Department of Social Science Dr. Rami Hin-yeung CHAN
Office: M532
ASI4001 DISASTER AND Office Hour: (by appointment)
Wednesday: 12:00-15:00
CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN ASIA Thursday: 13:30 - 16:30
st
1 Semester, 2021-2022 Telephone: 3963 5251
MODULE OUTLINE Email: ramichan@hsu.edu.hk
MODULE DESCRIPTION
This module focuses on the causes, actors, development processes and consequences of disasters and crises,
as well as the models and approaches in managing such uncertain situations. It enables students to
understand disaster and crisis management in Asia and nearby regions by employing interdisciplinary
approaches. From crisis management modeling to policy capacity, this module aims to develop students’
ability to link domestic issues to regional and global stage from the perspectives of crisis politics and
governance. Case studies such as natural disasters, epidemics, policy failures and political scandals enable
students to examine the political and societal consequences of different types of disaster and crisis in Asia.

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a) describe the features of crises and disasters;
b) examine various theoretical approaches of disaster and crisis management;
c) evaluate the challenges and threats on governance brought by various crises and disasters;
d) illustrate the practices on disaster management with regard to prevention, preparedness, response and
recovery; and
e) critically discuss the political and social impacts of disasters and the emergence of man-facilitated crisis
in Asia.

REFERENCES
1. Boin, A., ‘t Hart, P., Stern, E. & Sundelius, B. (2017). The Politics of Crisis Management: Public
Leadership under Pressure, 2nd Edition, Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.
2. Boin, A., McConnell, A. & 't Hart, P. (2008). Governing After Crisis: The Politics of Investigation,
Accountability and Learning. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.
3. Drennan, L.T., McConnell, A, and Stark, A. (2015) Risk and Crisis Management in the Public Sector, 2nd
Edition, London: Routledge,
4. Lo, S. (2014). The Politics of Crisis Management in China: The Sichuan Earthquake. Lanham:
Lexington.
5. Rosenthal, U., Boin, A. & Comfort, L. (2001). Managing Crises: Threats, Dilemmas, Opportunities.
Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher Ltd.

Students are required to download and make the printout of teaching materials from the “MyHSMC” for
each class meeting. Supplementary readings/case studies/assignments will be provided in class.
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TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

The module will be delivered via a series of lectures and tutorials. Lectures will be given to students with
core course contents delivered. After learning different concepts and theories on disaster and crisis
management, students are encouraged to use the current cases in Asia to conduct their analyses during the
tutorials. Apart from attending lectures, students will form groups to do presentation and submit term
paper afterward. An additional two to four hours per week are expected for private and group study, individual
assignment and/or consultation.

GRADING
1. Short Assignment (15%)
2. Group Presentation and Discussion (15%): Students will get into groups to conduct a PowerPoint
presentation and have to actively participate in the discussion afterward.
3. Final Paper (40%): Students are required to write up a group essay. The essay aims to discuss the key
concepts and issues addressed in various lecture. For details, please refer to the tutorial guideline.
4. End of Term Quiz (30%): The final quiz requires you to integrate what you have learnt throughout the
semester.

RULES AND GUIDELINES ON PASSING IN A MODULE (Effective from AY2018/19)

Student would pass a module given that his/her overall mark is equal to or higher than 40.

Students will be deemed as absent if they do not attend lesson without prior approval or fail to provide
supporting document for sick leave. A student will be deemed to have failed in the module if his/her
attendance rate of the module concerned is less than 80%, unless discretionary approval for considering
his/her performance in the assessment(s) of the module has been granted by the Head of Department in
consultation with the module teacher.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
“Plagiarism” is an act that comprises the following:
(1) deliberately using or incorporating the work of others, including printed and online resources,
in one’s own work without proper citation or acknowledgement, and
(2) subsequently submitting such work for academic credit or presentation.

The use of other’s work may include such practices as copying source materials word by word,
paraphrasing or translation of source materials, citing other’s works without proper citations or
acknowledgements, etc. The College takes plagiarism very seriously.

If a student engages in any academic misconduct, he or she may be subject to academic disciplinary action.
Examples of such action, depending on the severity of the misconduct, may include but not limit to grade
reduction, being given a failing grade, or dismissal from the program or the College.

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ASI4001 Disaster and Crisis Management in Asia

1st Semester, 2021-22
SCHEDULE FOR LECTURES

Instructor: Dr. Rami Chan

L01: Wednesday 15:00-17:50 (M1003)
Week L01 Lectures
1 8 Sep Module Introduction
Topic 1: What is Disaster/Crisis?
 Rosenthal, Uriel, Arjen Boin and Louise Comfort. “The Changing World
of Crises and Crisis Management.” In Managing Crises: Threats,
Dilemmas, Opportunities, by Uriel Rosenthal, Arjen Boin and Louise
Comfort, 5-27. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2001.
 't Hart, Paul, and Arjen Boin. “Between Crisis and Normalcy: the Long
Shadow of Post-Crisis Politics.” In Managing Crises: Threats, Dilemmas,
Opportunities, by Uriel Rosenthal, Arjen Boin and Louise Comfort, 28-46.
Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2001.
2 15 Sep Topic 2: Crisis Management: Theories and Concepts
 't Hart, Paul. "Symbols, Rituals and Power: The Lost Dimensions of
Crisis Management." Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 1,
no. 1 1993: 36-50.
3 22 Sep The Day Following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
(No Class)
4 29 Oct Preparation Week
(No Class)
5 6 Oct Topic 3: The Crisis Management Cycle
 Boin, Ajen, Paul 't Hart, Eric Stern and Bengt Sundelius. The Politics of
Crisis Management: Public Leadership under Pressure, 2nd Edition,
Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2017.
6 13 Oct Topic 4: Crisis Decision Making
 't Hart, Paul, Uriel Rosenthal, and Alexander Kouzmin. "Crisis Decision
Making: the Centralization Thesis Revisited." Administration & Society,
25, no. 1, May 1993: 12-45
7 20 Oct Topic 5: Crisis Leadership
 Boin, Arjen and Paul 't Hart. "Public Leadership in Times of Crisis:
Mission Impossible." Public Administration Review, 63, no. 5 2003: 544-
553.
8 27 Oct Topic 6: Politicization of Crisis
 Brandstrom, Annika, and Sanneke Kuipers. "From 'Normal Incidents' to
Political Crisis: Understanding the Selective Politicization of Policy

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Failures." Government and Opposition, 38 2003: 279-305.

 Snyder, Timothy. “17. Listen for dangerous words & 18. Be calm when
the unthinkable arrives.” On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the
Twentieth Century, London: Vintage Publishing.
9 3 Nov Topic 7: Accountability: The Blame Game
 Olson, Richard. "Toward a Politics of Disaster: Losses, Values,
Agendas, and Blame." International Journal of Mass Emergencies and
Disaster, 18, no. 2 2000: 265-287.
10 10 Nov Topic 8: Evaluation and Learning
 Keeler, John. "Opening the Window for Reform: Mandates, Crises, and
Extraordinary Policy-Making." Comparative Political Studies, 25, no. 4,
January 1993: 433-486.
11 17 Nov Topic 9: The Politics of Disaster and Crisis Management in Asia
 Chan, Hin-yeung. "Crisis Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: How
Crises Catalyse Changes under the State-Society Interactive
Framework." Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 21, no. 4
2013: 200-210.
 Nakamura, Akira. “Preparing for the Inevitable: Japan’s Ongoing
Search for Best Crisis Management Practices.” In Managing Crises:
Threats, Dilemmas, Opportunities, by Uriel Rosenthal, Arjen Boin and
Louise Comfort, 307-315. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2001.
12 24 Nov Topic 10: Managing Global Crisis in the 21st Century
 Rosenthal, Uriel, and Alexander Kouzmin. "Globaling an Agenda for
Contingencies and Crisis Management: An Editorial Statement."
Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 1, no. 1 1993: 1-12.
 Dayton, Bruce. “Managing Crises in the Twenty-Frist Century.”
International Studies Review, 6 2004, 165-194.
Revision
13 1 Dec End-of-term Quiz
(15:30-17:30) Venue and Format TBC