Abstract
Taking a ten-year retrospective view, this article qualitatively evaluates the performance of the paired-assistance policy (PAP) implemented in response to China’s Wenchuan earthquake from the perspective of sustainable recovery. Based on a review of relevant literature, the article proposes an integrated framework for the qualitative evaluation of the sustainability of disaster recovery. First, sustainable recovery prioritizes sustainability as the goal of activities undertaken to improve the local quality of life and local economic and environmental conditions. Second, sustainable recovery is a process involving several stages, from restoration to replacement reconstruction and finally to developmental construction. Third, sustainable recovery creates a structure that fosters local reliance through interactions between external and internal entities. Fourth, sustainable recovery emphasizes betterment over restoration and hazard mitigation. Overall, sustainable recovery integrates these four characteristics. Using the case-study method, this article qualitatively evaluates the Jiangsu-Mianzhu PAP (JM-PAP) from the perspective of sustainable recovery. The findings suggest that the JM-PAP laid a good foundation for sustainable recovery after the Wenchuan earthquake. Finally, policy recommendations are offered to improve the performance of the PAP in achieving sustainable recovery after future disasters in China.
Highlights
The Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred at 2:28 p.m. on 12 May 2008, is one of the most severe disasters to have taken place in China since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949
Looking back ten years later, how do we evaluate the performance of the paired-assistance policy (PAP) in response to the Wenchuan earthquake? Some studies have explored the effectiveness of the policy [3,4,5,6], the sustainability of the recovery secured by the PAP remains unclear
The findings suggest that the Jiangsu-Mianzhu PAP (JM-PAP) achieved an effective recovery and laid a good foundation for long term development after the earthquake
Summary
The Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred at 2:28 p.m. on 12 May 2008, is one of the most severe disasters to have taken place in China since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Sustainable recovery entails the long-term economic development of areas affected by disasters, improvement to the quality of life of the local residents, and improvement to local environmental conditions Building on these basic principles, sustainable recovery studies have the following four key dimensions. This stage may continue for many years after a disaster and is directed toward promoting the future economic growth and long-term betterment of the locale [18] In this sense, the process of sustainable recovery after disaster moves from restoration to replacement reconstruction and to commemorative, augmentative, and development construction.
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