New Books Network Gonzalo Lizarralde, "Unnatural Disasters: Why Most Responses to Risk and Climate Change Fail But Some Succeed" (Columbia UP, 2021)
Jan 17, 2026
Gonzalo Lizarralde, a Professor and author specializing in disaster recovery and architecture, discusses his book, which critiques how human factors fuel disasters. He shares compelling stories of those affected by inequality and offers insights on why most rescue efforts fail. Lizarralde emphasizes the importance of grassroots leadership and local responses, particularly in Cuba. He argues that true sustainability requires listening and understanding community needs, moving beyond the jargon often used by powerful institutions.
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Shock Doctrine Explains But Doesn’t Fully Fit
- Naomi Klein's shock doctrine explains how disasters enable neoliberal agendas to advance quickly.
- Lizarralde finds it explains much but not all of the political dynamics he observed on the ground.
Vulnerability Theory Has Limits
- Vulnerability theory remains a valuable tool but cannot explain every disaster outcome.
- Rich, nontraditional victims (e.g., wealthy Californians) reveal limits of power-imbalance explanations.
Practitioner Experience Shaped The Analysis
- Lizarralde describes working directly with mayors, NGOs, and community leaders during reconstruction.
- Those ground experiences revealed both political manipulation and genuine ignorance or lack of skills among practitioners.
