The checkered rise of resilience: anticipating risks of nature in Switzerland and Germany since 1800

Abstract: Both concepts, prevention and resilience, are ways of thinking and acting that are very similar at first glance. Prevention means optimising the present by anticipating the future. Crucial for the idea and practice of prevention is anticipating a risky future that should never become reality. Resilience describes a less radical manner of behaviour, which does not want to prevent risks per se. It stresses the ability to anticipate danger and to resist damage - if possible without losses. The terms "prevention" and "resilience" are still relatively young and have appeared infrequently in systems ecology, criminology and medicine since the early twentieth century. This article detaches both concepts from these fields and examines their heuristic potential with the example of natural disasters. In order to shed light on the history of prevention and resilience, the essay focuses on various agents with their specific strategies and techniques. So beside the history of hydraulic engineer

Object Details

• Alternative title: Der Aufstieg der Resilienz: die Antizipation von Naturrisiken in der Schweiz und in Deutschland seit 1800
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: The checkered rise of resilience: anticipating risks of nature in Switzerland and Germany since 1800 ; volume:41 ; number:1 ; year:2016 ; pages:240-262 ; Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet (peer reviewed) ; Historical social research ; 41, Heft 1 (2016), 240-262

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Geschichte

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Hannig, Nicolai

Further information

• DOI: 10.12759/hsr.41.2016.1.240-262
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-46551-7
• Rights: Open Access; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:46 AM CEST