State of the Art of Community Resilience in Chile: Advances in Chilean Research on Socio-environmental Disasters and Social Vulnerability
摘要
This chapter analyzes research on community resilience in Chile, highlighting its relevance both in contexts of socio-natural disasters and sociopolitical adversities. Community resilience is defined as a community’s capacity to resist, adapt, and reorganize in the face of crisis situations, incorporating dimensions such as emotional regulation, well-being, social capital, and collective efficacy. The studies reviewed highlight the role played by the sense of community, cultural identity, and social cohesion as fundamental factors in overcoming adversities. The research identifies two main approaches: the first focuses on the response to socio-natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and wildfires, while the second is aimed at addressing psychosocial vulnerabilities such as social inequalities and ethnic discrimination. It highlights the concept of transformative resilience, which proposes structural changes to address the root causes of vulnerability, promoting sustainability, equity, and community empowerment. The chapter highlights Chile as a laboratory case study, given its geographic and sociopolitical context, where communities have faced recurrent natural disasters and governance problems. Community strategies, such as Mapuche cultural tourism, communal kitchens during the COVID-19 pandemic, and democratic leadership, are presented as examples of resilient practices that strengthen the social fabric. In conclusion, the need to integrate community resilience into public policies is recognized, fostering joint work between communities, institutions, and governments to reduce inequalities and face future challenges sustainably.