Definition Of Crisis Research Articles

Crisis Management and Tourism

Summary Undoubtedly, the tourism industry is one of the most susceptible and vulnerable industries to crises. Recent major events that had devastating impacts on the industry ranges from natural disasters to epidemics, and from mismanagement to terrorist attacks. These kinds of episodes are not confined to any geographical region, as crises respect no political or cultural boundaries. Two major recent events illustrate this point: the BSE crisis in the UK in the 1990s, which was followed by the foot and mouth disease in 2000 and 2001, crippled the industry in several regions of England. Most recently, the events of September 11th in New York and Washington changed the way the industry operates forever. Crises are not new to the tourism industry. However, it has been observed that tourism management capability and ability to deal with complex and critical situations are limited. This paper discusses the concept of crisis management and its relevance to tourism. It presents an overview of the general trends in tourism crises events of the last two decades, assesses the impacts of major man-made crises on the industry, and argues for the importance of crisis management in tourism management. The paper also discusses the complex issue of crisis definition and its implications for organizations, and provides an operational definition of crisis management. Critical issues in crisis management, such as crisis anatomy, crisis incubation, risk perception in tourism and destination image, are discussed. Finally, the paper explores and analyses, in the context of crisis anatomy, the public sector handling of a major resort pollution crisis in Southern Brazil.

Debt Crises and the Development of International Capital Markets

Crises on external sovereign debt are typically defined as defaults. Such a definition accurately captures debt-servicing difficulties in the 1980s, a period of numerous defaults on bank loans. However, defining defaults as debt crises is problematic for the 1990s, when sovereign bond markets emerged. In contrast to the 1980s, the 1990s are characterized by significant foreign debt-servicing difficulties but fewer sovereign defaults. In order to capture this evolution of debt markets, we define debt crises as events occurring when either a country defaults or its bond spreads are above a critical threshold. We find that our definition outperforms the default-based definition in capturing debt-servicing difficulties and, consequently, in fitting the post-1994 period. In particular, liquidity indicators are significant in explaining our definition of debt crises, while they do not play any role in explaining defaults after 1994.

Debt Crises and the Development of International Capital Markets

Crises on external sovereign debt are typically defined as defaults. Such a definition accurately captures debt-servicing difficulties in the 1980s, a period of numerous defaults on bank loans. However, defining defaults as debt crises is problematic for the 1990s, when sovereign bond markets emerged. In contrast to the 1980s, the 1990s are characterized by significant foreign debt-servicing difficulties but fewer sovereign defaults. In order to capture this evolution of debt markets, we define debt crises as events occurring when either a country defaults or its bond spreads are above a critical threshold. We find that our definition outperforms the default-based definition in capturing debt-servicing difficulties and, consequently, in fitting the post-1994 period. In particular, liquidity indicators are significant in explaining our definition of debt crises, while they do not play any role in explaining defaults after 1994.

The States' Role in U.S. Local Government Fiscal Crises: A Theoretical Model and Results of a National Survey

This article hypothesizes four potential roles that states may play in dealing with local government fiscal crises: predict, avert, mitigate and prevent the recurrence of local fiscal crises. Based on a 50‐state telephone survey administered by the author to members of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers in 2002, this article presents detailed information on states' roles in dealing with actual local government fiscal crises. The research found that ten states had formal definitions of local government fiscal crises while the remainder varied between having a working definition, having no definition, or leaving it to local authorities to define a fiscal crisis for themselves. Although the majority of states lacked a rigourous, legal definition of what constitutes a local government fiscal crisis, 36 states reported that they had had such crisis in recent history in their states. Seven overlapping categories of state approaches emerged: the directive approach, the proactive approach, the ad hoc approach, the special legislation approach, the reform approach, the takeover approach, and the responsive approach. States reported a wide range of activities under each of the hypothesized roles. In general, states tended to get involved after a crisis rather than before one occured.

The Use of Crisis Intervention Principles by Police Negotiators

ABSTRACT Hostage Negotiations has been a highly successful approach to high conflict incidents in policing. Negotiators have expanded their usefulness far beyond the 18% of incidents they manage that involve hostages. They are used by the majority of departments in a variety of crisis situations. Therefore, the skills they use are crisis intervention skills. This paper presents a definition of crisis, shows how this definition fits the majority of incidents on which negotiators are called to manage and show how crisis intervention principles help organize negotiator's strategies and tactics. It focuses specifically on the stages, goals, and skills that are common to most crisis incidents.

Prise en charge de la crise suicidaire

The definition of suicidal crisis extends to include different aspects starting from suicidal thoughts and ending with suicidal attempt. The management of the crisis begins at the moment of its identification and evaluation together with the exploration of the precipitating factors. This first step helps finding out the most adequate form of intervention to end the crisis, taking into consideration the moment of the crisis, the level of emergency and the nature of the crisis. The aim of this intervention is to accompany the crisis state while trying to identify the nature and the reasons of the psychical suffering of the person in order to, if possible, avoid a suicidal attempt, avoid fatal cumsequences of an attempt, avoid a new crisis and finally to help the subject survive after the crisis.

An integrated approach to crisis management in wilderness settings

This paper introduces wilderness leaders to the notion and experience of emotional crises, as they may occur in wilderness environments. Basic definitions and descriptions of crises and scenarios are presented. Then, a comprehensive model, generated from a United States perspective is presented. This model includes basic definitions of crises, and also covers techniques for helping people in crisis. Finally, the discussion ends with a model for debriefing after traumatic events have occurred. Discussion and implications for the field are presented.

Inflation crises, deflation, and growth: further evidence

Bruno and Easterly (1998) provide a simple historical description of per capita GDP growth rates before, during and after periods of high inflation crises. The pattern of growth shows resurgence in after-crisis growth to above the before-crisis level. The robustness of this finding is tested against justifiable changes in the data sample used and against different crisis definitions. The results show that after-crisis growth rates do not recover to a level above those experienced before-crisis. In contrast to Bruno and Easterly, the important distinction between open and closed economies is emphasized. Only in the former case are their results that growth deviations from the world average after-crisis improve relative to the before-crisis periods confirmed. Finally, the pattern of growth before, during and after deflationary periods is analysed. The data reveal a potentially important asymmetry in the correlation between deflation and growth, and inflation and growth. Low rates of deflation are associated with a similarly negative per capita GDP growth rate as are very high rates of inflation.

Inflation crises, deflation, and growth: further evidence

Bruno and Easterly (1998) provide a simple historical description of per capita GDP growth rates before, during and after periods of high inflation crises. The pattern of growth shows resurgence in after-crisis growth to above the before-crisis level. The robustness of this finding is tested against justifiable changes in the data sample used and against different crisis definitions. The results show that after-crisis growth rates do not recover to a level above those experienced before-crisis. In contrast to Bruno and Easterly, the important distinction between open and closed economies is emphasized. Only in the former case are their results that growth deviations from the world average after-crisis improve relative to the before-crisis periods confirmed. Finally, the pattern of growth before, during and after deflationary periods is analysed. The data reveal a potentially important asymmetry in the correlation between deflation and growth, and inflation and growth. Low rates of deflation are associated with a similarly negative per capita GDP growth rate as are very high rates of inflation.

Anatomy of Organizational Crises

As the business environment gets more complex, the crises faced by management are more frequent and, potentially, more devastating. Previous research on crises looks at specific cases, typologies and definitions of crises. This paper argues that crises are better understood through the way they develop. Based on the theory of punctuated equilibria in biology, two types of crises are proposed: abrupt versus cumulative. An organizing framework based on a punctuated equilibria view of crisis is presented. In addition, the key concepts and mechanisms of the framework that provide management with a broadened view for coping with the ubiquitous nature of crises are discussed.

Debating the Earth: the environmental politics reader

This volume highlights the diversity of political responses to environmental issues by bringing together 40 readings in environmental politics. These cover various definitions of environmental crisis; its causes and effects; and responses to it in institutions, politics, policies, community organizing and lifestyle. They are organized in a way that emphasizes the differences and debates across the various schools of thought on environmental affairs. The key debates cover: the severity of environmental problems - how real are ecological limits?; reformist responses to environmental issues - can expert administrators or liberal democratic institutions respond effectively?; environment and economics - is there a clash between economic and environmental values? Can sustainable development reconcile them?; Green critiques - what sorts of radical changes are advocated by deep ecologists, socialist ecologists, ecofeminists, environmental justice activists and others?; and society, the State, and the environment - how can Green critiques be put into political practice in social movements and democratic structures? The book offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental politics and should be a valuable text for all students of environmental politics and policy, and anyone with an interest in environmental issues.

Transactional Analysis Notes from Oklahoma City: After the Bombing

This article looks at the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City and its aftermath from the vantage point of transactional analysis, a process that gains added importance if this bombing is, indeed, the first major manifestation of a new kind of terrorism in the United States. The article also delineates previously unnoted functions of the bystander in the drama triangle: crisis creation and definition, scenario construction, and the elaboration of myth.

Reframing Crisis Management

The impact of organizational crises has never been stronger. Yet previous research on crisis management lacks adequate integration. In this article we attempt to integrate and build upon current knowledge to create a multidisciplinary approach to crisis management research, using psychological, social-political, and technological-structural research perspectives. We offer definitions of organizational crisis and crisis management, as well as a framework that depicts the crisis management process and researchable propositions for the integration of these perspectives. We also suggest implications for research and practice.

Before and after Dayton: The UN and NATO in the former Yugoslavia

There is no doubt that the development of the relationships between the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been very much affected by the Yugoslav crisis, both before and after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement.1 The experience of cooperation is relevant for a better understanding of the complex relationships within the UN’s system of collective security as well as between the UN and regional organizations. There was no blueprint nor any ‘arrangement’ which regulated such mutual relationships. Furthermore, the cooperation before and after Dayton took place under fundamentally different conditions of subcontracting. This reflects the fact that the international community’s involvement in the falling apart of the former Yugoslavia made the Balkan region a testing ground for international politics that required new definitions of crises, analyses and responses. The evolving UN and NATO forms of cooperation had an experimental character. These contacts would have been unthinkable during the preceding years of the Cold War. The Atlantic Alliance chose not to identify itself as a regional organization under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, thereby excluding any Soviet infringement in NATO’s security matters. The central question is whether subcontracting, as applied in the former Yugoslavia, set precedents for future relationships between the UN and regional organizations, particularly in terms of division of labour and accountability.

Crises and Crisis Management: Toward Comprehensive Government Decision Making

Crises and Crisis Management: Toward Comprehensive Government Decision Making

Aux limites de la crise : moment critique d’Emily Dickinson

This close reading of one poem by Dickinson, « Crisis is sweet », wishes to demonstrate that the poet makes us share in a multiple experience of crisis combining sexual climax, mystical revelation, and the destruction of the poetic image. Positing a multi-level definition of crisis, the poem shows that the very process of definition — undoubtedly one of Dickinson's preferred modes of tackling with reality — entails a fundamental crisis and criticism of representation.

Policy reform and reform myopia: Agriculture in developing countries

Recent decades witnessed major efforts on the part of many developingcountry government to alter existing economic policies and undo constraints on agricultural growth. This article compares the dynamics of agricultural policy reform initiatives of the 1970s with those of the 1980s. The authors argue that when the definition of what is needed in terms of policy to ‘get agriculture moving’ changes, the political economy of policy making and implementation also shifts. Such shifts are often accompanied by a myopic focus on new crisis definitions and new policy solutions, to the detriment of more integrated approaches to agricultural development.

Death concern and businessmen's mid-life crisis.

The Death Concern Scale of Dickstein was completed by 227 businessmen between the ages of 35 and 60 yr. They were provided a definition of a mid-life crisis and asked to indicate if they had experienced such a crisis and its level of severity. Analysis indicated that 157 respondents acknowledged having a mid-life crisis and that death concern was significantly related to the reported experience of a crisis. Those who reported having mid-life crises had the highest scores on death concern. There was a significant association of more severe crises and higher scores on death concern. Lastly, older respondents reported having greater crises than younger ones. These results are interpreted as providing support for the proposition that mid-life crises exist for men and that death concern is related to such crises.

Organizational Crisis. Part I: Definition and Conceptualization

Initially, a two part definition of organizational crisis is presented, related to their significance and prevalence and reflecting either (a) opportunities to meet organizational goals or (b) demands or threats that may prevent an organization from attaining its goals or limiting its abilities to meet them and (c) which the organization seeks to resolve because outcome stakes are important and the ideal resolution strategy uncertain. Thus, crises have both objective and subjective aspects. A number of elements of the definition are discussed in terms of their implications for organizations and their subsystems. Finally, three major aspects of our conceptualization are described in terms of empirical examples from our investigations followed by a typology of eight kinds of organizational crisis based upon three dimensions, (1) control, (2) opportunity-threat, and (3) organizational susceptibility and vulnerability to crisis. Part II will deal with strategies and responses to crisis.

Zambian Crisis Behavior: Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence

This study of the behavior of Zambia's decision makers, confronted with the implications of Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence in November 1965, forms part of Michael Brecher's International Crisis Behavior Project and employs (with adaptations) his ICB framework. This article analyzes by period the critical situation Zambia faced, particularly as a result of its historical legacy of almost total dependency on Rhodesia for energy supplies and access to the sea for its copper exports. Next, it seeks to measure, by means of a content analysis of official statements, changes in crisis-induced stress over time in terms of the basic elements in Brecher's operational definition of a crisis. The paper then dissects the decision-making process with respect to one decision in one phase of the crisis in terms of the coping mechanisms employed. On the basis of this, certain tentative conclusions on Zambian crisis behavior are outlined. Finally, the attempt is made to set the Zambian case in the perspective of the wider ICB Project and of African foreign policy studies generally.