Community resilience in the wake of horrific social events

Abstract

Purpose

Using a recent television series as a start point, this paper aims to explore risk management and the impact of serious offending on individuals and communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Concepts like mad, bad, good, or evil are examined in the context of horrific social events and links to recent developments in government strategy aiming to strengthen and protect community resilience.

Findings

It is shown how the nature of society and modern lifestyles can influence the resilience levels and the likelihood of individuals from all walks of life contributing towards community resilience.

Social implications

Community resilience is positioned with the idea that society should not only support direct victims of horrific events, but also those indirectly affected in the same local community.

Originality/value

The paper argues that the notion of community resilience provides a useful framework for thinking about how, in a risk‐averse society, community participation to promote wellbeing within particular neighbourhoods might be facilitated.

Citation

Quinney, L. (2012), "Community resilience in the wake of horrific social events", Safer Communities, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 90-95. https://doi.org/10.1108/17578041211215311