| Dominant Perspective |
Alternative Prevalent Perspective |
| Disasters/conflicts viewed as an
isolated event. |
Disasters/conflicts are part of
the normal process of development. |
| Linkage with conditions in society
during normal times are less analyzed. |
Analyzing linkages with society
during normal times is fundamental for
understanding disaster and conflicts. |
| Technical/Law and Order solutions
dominant. |
Emphasis on solutions that change
relationship/ structures in society. The
objective is to reduce people's vulnerability
and strength their capacity. |
| Centralized institutions dominate
in the intervention strategies. Less participation
of people, who are treated as "victims" |
Decentralized institutions dominate
in the intervention strategies. Participation
of people paramount in intervention strategies;
people treated as "partners"
in development. |
| Implementing agencies less accountable
and their process less transparent to
people |
Ensuring accountability and transparency
emphasized in implementation. |
| Interventions are made after the
event occurs. |
Mitigation of disasters/conflict
the fundamental aims. |
| The objective of intervention is
to return to the situation before the
event occurred. |
Disaster /conflicts viewed as opportunities
for social transformation. |
