Study goals
Discuss how vulnerabilities, especially with regard to social inequalities, are linked to disasters and how they increase in the face of their occurrence, further aggravating the situation of groups and communities in fragile conditions.
Relevance / originality
The main intention of this article was to demonstrate, based on the situation that has been experienced in Brumadinho, how disasters are not isolated facts that occur accidentally, but rather processes resulting from economic, political and social constructions.
Methodology / approach
The research had a qualitative approach, and the method used was the case study. For data collection, documentary research, participant observation and interviews were carried out. Content analysis was the strategy for data analysis.
Main results
The experience of the municipality of Brumadinho has shown how the recovery from a disaster is difficult to be carried out and makes the affected population even more vulnerable and exposed to risk, increasing weaknesses and inequalities.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
The situation in the city of Minas Gerais also highlights the procedural construction of disasters and how the current economic and productive development model needs to be rethought – and modified.
Social / management contributions
Empirical studies on the relationship between disasters, vulnerabilities and social inequalities are fundamental for understanding and solving theoretical gaps and, especially, social demands for resolving the issue.