Crisis Communication Challenges in Türkiye’s Centralized Disaster Response: A Case Study of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes
| Thesis title in Czech: | Výzvy krizové komunikace v reakci na katastrofu v Turecku: případová studie zemětřesení na Kahramanmaraş |
|---|---|
| Thesis title in English: | Crisis Communication Challenges in Türkiye’s Centralized Disaster Response: A Case Study of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes |
| Key words: | crisis communication, disaster, management, earthquake management, Türkiye |
| English key words: | crisis communication, disaster, management, earthquake management, Türkiye |
| Academic year of topic announcement: | 2021/2022 |
| Thesis type: | diploma thesis |
| Thesis language: | angličtina |
| Department: | Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP) |
| Supervisor: | Emilija Tudjarovska Gjorgjievska, Ph.D. |
| Author: | hidden - assigned by the advisor |
| Date of registration: | 29.06.2022 |
| Date of assignment: | 29.06.2022 |
| Date and time of defence: | 12.06.2024 09:00 |
| Venue of defence: | Areál Jinonice, C220, 220, seminární místnost ISS |
| Date of electronic submission: | 30.04.2024 |
| Date of proceeded defence: | 12.06.2024 |
| Opponents: | prof. PhDr. Martin Potůček, CSc., M.Sc. |
| Guidelines |
| A. Research problem definition
B. Objectives (their direct link to the formulated research problem) C. Research questions D. Theoretical concept E. Research plan F. Literature |
| References |
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Adar, S., & Seufert, G. (2021). Turkey's presidential system after two and a half years: An overview of institutions and politics. AFAD. (2018). Turkey earthquake regions map. https://www.afad.gov.tr/ en/26735/Turkeys-New-Earthquake-Hazard-Map-is-Published. Agranoff, R., & McGuire, M. (2001). Big questions in public network management research. Journal of public administration research and theory, 11(3), 295-326. Akay, A (2011). “Türkiye’de Afet Politikaları”, Kartal, F (editör) Türkiye’de Kamu Yönetimi ve Kamu Politikaları, TODAİE Yayınları, Ankara, 458-459. Ali Soner, B. (2010). The Justice and Development Party's policies towards non-Muslim minorities in Turkey. Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, 12(1), 23-40. Allmark, P., Boote, J., Chambers, E., Clarke, A., McDonnell, A., Thompson, A., & Tod, A. M. (2009). Ethical issues in the use of in-depth interviews: literature review and discussion. Research Ethics, 5(2), 48-54. ARGIN, Y. (2023). DOĞAL AFETLERDE SOSYAL MEDYA KULLANIMI: 2023 KAHRAMANMARAŞ DEPREMİ ÖZELİNDE TWİTTER ÖRNEĞİ. İnsanat Sanat Tasarım ve Mimarlık Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 140-165. Arifah, A. R., Tariq, M., & Juni, M. H. (2019). Decision making in disaster management cycle of natural disasters: a review. Int J Public Health Clin Sci, 6(3), 1-18. Aydiner, T., & Özgür, H. (2016). Natural Disaster Governance: Barriers For Turkey. European Scientific Journal. Aydınbaş, G. (2023). Sosyoekonomik boyutuyla Türkiye’de depremler üzerine bir inceleme: Kahramanmaraş depremi örneği. In Sosyal bilimlere çok yönlü yaklaşımlar: Tarih, turizm, eğitim, ekonomi, siyaset ve iletişim (pp. 177-212). Özgür Yayın Dağıtım Ltd. Şti. Aydıner, T. (2014). Doğal afet yönetişimi: Türkiye'de doğal afet yönetimi uygulamalarının tarihsel bağlamda değerlendirilmesi (Master's thesis). Azari, J. R., & Smith, J. K. (2012). Unwritten rules: Informal institutions in established democracies. Perspectives on Politics, 10(1), 37-55. Bae, Y., Joo, Y. M., & Won, S. Y. (2016). Decentralization and collaborative disaster governance: Evidence from South Korea. Habitat international, 52, 50-56. |
| Preliminary scope of work |
| Türkiye's disaster and emergency context, specifically regarding earthquake features, settlement information, and analytical assessments, serves as a significant groundwork for crisis communication (Birinci, 2023). Disaster management systems and crisis communication are critical in safeguarding communities during crises, yet the type of disaster management and crisis communication, particularly in the context of Türkiye, remains a subject of scrutiny.
“Crisis communication plays the role of a glue, promoting collaboration and ensuring that efforts are not duplicated or misdirected” (Güneşer and Saygılı, 2024, p. 69). Therefore, existence of shortcomings in the crisis communication causes delays in the provision of rescue and aid operations and other necessary measures need to be taken during disaster response in a limited amount of time. After Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes, several different communication challenges had been observed, as the GSM operators and internet were collapsed in most of the affected areas; some affected areas were without help for a few days; the rescue operations were not enough due to the lack of human capital in The Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and the inefficiency of coordination efforts, etc. Even though humanitarian response aims for prompt and swift action when addressing disasters, typically completing initial assessments of fundamental necessities within 24 hours and initiating aid delivery swiftly thereafter (Mena and Hilhorst, 2022), the necessary activities within response stage were delayed and not efficient for the initial 24, 48 and 72 hours in most of the affected areas after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake happened. As Ugur-Cinar (2023) argues, the delay of rescue efforts had caused numerous preventable deaths. When the rescue operations are late and delayed, the death toll increases due to hypothermia, thirst, and hunger as people under the rubbles are trying to survive with minimal conditions. Relevant crisis communication barriers and underlying contributing factors that occurred aftermath the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes will be analyzed under three main subheadings: technological challenges which would refer to infrastructure failure and social media restriction; sociological challenges which refers to the existing and long-lasting socio-political polarization in Türkiye among diverse identities; and organizational challenges which will comprehend on the centralized character of current Turkish disaster management system and moreover, the superiority of informal institutions over formal institutions in the current socio-political context of Türkiye. |
| Preliminary scope of work in English |
| Türkiye's disaster and emergency context, specifically regarding earthquake features, settlement information, and analytical assessments, serves as a significant groundwork for crisis communication (Birinci, 2023). Disaster management systems and crisis communication are critical in safeguarding communities during crises, yet the type of disaster management and crisis communication, particularly in the context of Türkiye, remains a subject of scrutiny.
“Crisis communication plays the role of a glue, promoting collaboration and ensuring that efforts are not duplicated or misdirected” (Güneşer and Saygılı, 2024, p. 69). Therefore, existence of shortcomings in the crisis communication causes delays in the provision of rescue and aid operations and other necessary measures need to be taken during disaster response in a limited amount of time. After Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes, several different communication challenges had been observed, as the GSM operators and internet were collapsed in most of the affected areas; some affected areas were without help for a few days; the rescue operations were not enough due to the lack of human capital in The Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and the inefficiency of coordination efforts, etc. Even though humanitarian response aims for prompt and swift action when addressing disasters, typically completing initial assessments of fundamental necessities within 24 hours and initiating aid delivery swiftly thereafter (Mena and Hilhorst, 2022), the necessary activities within response stage were delayed and not efficient for the initial 24, 48 and 72 hours in most of the affected areas after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake happened. As Ugur-Cinar (2023) argues, the delay of rescue efforts had caused numerous preventable deaths. When the rescue operations are late and delayed, the death toll increases due to hypothermia, thirst, and hunger as people under the rubbles are trying to survive with minimal conditions. Relevant crisis communication barriers and underlying contributing factors that occurred aftermath the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes will be analyzed under three main subheadings: technological challenges which would refer to infrastructure failure and social media restriction; sociological challenges which refers to the existing and long-lasting socio-political polarization in Türkiye among diverse identities; and organizational challenges which will comprehend on the centralized character of current Turkish disaster management system and moreover, the superiority of informal institutions over formal institutions in the current socio-political context of Türkiye. |