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Democracy After Disaster

Democracy After Disaster

Written by: Kate Lawrence
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About this listen

 Natural disasters rip away our collective sense of control, so it’s critical that the road of recovery is paved with community voice and agency. With disasters increasing year on year we need new ideas for how governments and communities can work together when everything has been destroyed.

Democracy After Disasters is a nine part narrative documentary podcast series that explores how we can re-build democracy on the road of recovery. We'll talk to people from Macedon to Mallacoota, to experts in history, philosophy and political science. And we'll uncover ideas that can dramatically improve the path of community recovery.

Listen and subscribe to Democracy after Disasters wherever you get your podcasts.Kate Lawrence Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • 8. Circle Talk

    8. Circle Talk
    Nov 24 2025
    In this eighth episode of 'Democracy After Disaster' we learn about ways we can better create space for meaningful conversations and inclusive decision making. On New Year's Eve 2019 the small town of Cobargo where Dave Newell lives, was devastated by bushfire. His story shares examples of participation frameworks like the Art of Hosting, Circle, and Open Space. We also discuss broader concepts like complexity theory, majority rule, and the significance of building relationships for effective recovery and decision-making.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 7. People, Paradox and Power

    7. People, Paradox and Power
    Nov 17 2025
    In Episode 7 of 'Democracy After Disaster,' we explore the intricate dynamics of power in disaster recovery. Examining the relationships between governments and communities, the episode focuses on the need for partnership, and how fostering democratic values encourages civic participation and tempers the corruption of power, leading to better community recovery.

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    52 mins
  • 6. Backfire

    6. Backfire
    Nov 10 2025
    In this sixth episode of 'Democracy After Disaster', we hear the experiences of former recovery worker and self confessed democracy geek, Paula, who must navigate the system in order to do the public service work she loves. We get a glimpse of local government from the inside and hold it up to the light of democracy, and we start to see where solutions might lie if we are to improve our collective experience of recovery.

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    43 mins
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