“Beyond Imagination”: Government Blind Spots Regarding Catastrophic Risks
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Daniel A. Farber
Abstract
In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, decision makers described the reactor failures and the tsunami that triggered them as beyond imagination. Yet, the possibility of such a tsunami was understood by experts and the implications for reactor safety were clear. This was not an isolated phenomenon in natural or human catastrophes. This paper considers why the possibility of catastrophic event is often excluded from consideration and methods for incorporating low-probability catastrophes into risk assessment. In part, this phenomenon can be explained by the goals of decision makers and avoidance of cognitive dissonance. Moreover, professional cultures may blind even experts to risks that do not fit established paradigms. The paper considers some possible mechanisms for ameliorating the problem.
©2015 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Introduction – The Problem of Law in Response to Disasters
- Articles
- “Beyond Imagination”: Government Blind Spots Regarding Catastrophic Risks
- Regulation of Coastal Zones and Natural Disasters: Mitigating the Impact of Tsunamis in Chile Through Urban and Regional Planning
- Disaster and Protection of Tenants in Japanese Law: General Principles in Time of Emergencies
- Japan’s News Media, The Information Disclosure Law, and The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
- Is International Ocean Law Capable of Preventing or Mitigating the Impacts of Nuclear Disaster?
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Introduction – The Problem of Law in Response to Disasters
- Articles
- “Beyond Imagination”: Government Blind Spots Regarding Catastrophic Risks
- Regulation of Coastal Zones and Natural Disasters: Mitigating the Impact of Tsunamis in Chile Through Urban and Regional Planning
- Disaster and Protection of Tenants in Japanese Law: General Principles in Time of Emergencies
- Japan’s News Media, The Information Disclosure Law, and The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
- Is International Ocean Law Capable of Preventing or Mitigating the Impacts of Nuclear Disaster?
