4.2. Social Capital

On the other hand, we have external one which we cannot less control, is an exogenous variable. What are they? External variables is considered in this double structure of vulnerability as exposure.

This chunk discusses the concept of external vulnerabilities. Here, external variables are recognized as factors outside an individual's control, which can influence their exposure to various risks. Exposure can be related to natural disasters, epidemics, or social conditions that may increase an individual's vulnerability to hazards. This distinction helps in identifying different dimensions of vulnerability that a community or individual may face.

Imagine trying to prepare for a storm. While you can stock up on supplies and secure your home, the storm itself is unpredictable and out of your control. Similarly, external vulnerabilities are factors like natural disasters that emerge from outside an individual's ability to influence them.

It also defined the social and institutional structure, features of that one that also bring individuals in a particular exposure of threat and like if I am an outcast, I have less networks, it actually increase my exposure to a hazard.

This section explains how social and institutional structures contribute to vulnerability. Individuals who belong to marginalized groups or have weaker social networks are more exposed to risks. For example, a person who is isolated or lacks community support faces greater dangers during emergencies than someone well-connected with strong social ties.

Think of a community during a flood. People with strong friendships and connections can quickly gather help and resources. In contrast, someone who is an outcast or lacks connections may struggle to find assistance, emphasizing how social structures affect vulnerability.

So, double structure of vulnerability, two components; one is the exposure one and this exposure one according to Bohle that we can understand this exposure context from 3 different dimensions.

This chunk introduces the two components involved in understanding vulnerability: exposure and vulnerability framework as explained by Bohle. Bohle suggests analyzing this exposure through three dimensions: human ecological perspective, entitlement theory, and political-economic approach. Each dimension provides insights into how communities interact with their environments and resources, affecting their vulnerability.

Consider a village affected by drought. The human ecological perspective looks at how local population dynamics affect resource management. The entitlement theory examines whether villagers have the right to use land for farming. Finally, the political-economic approach looks at how national policies may benefit some while leaving others vulnerable.

Well to understand people's coping, we can also borrow the ideas from crisis and conflict kind of studies, who have the access to assets and resources and how it matter of conflict between individuals and groups.

This section discusses coping strategies in the context of vulnerability. It emphasizes that individuals' access to plants, assets, and resources is crucial. Studying conflicts can reveal how people strive for resources and the struggles that arise when resources are scarce. These coping strategies are essential in managing vulnerability.

Think about a community during a recession. Those with stable jobs can afford food and shelter, while those without may struggle and even conflict might arise for sharing limited resources. By understanding these dynamics, we can better address vulnerabilities during crises.

There is another more prominent and very popular conceptual idea of vulnerability is the sustainable livelihood framework.

The Sustainable Livelihood Framework provides a comprehensive view of vulnerability, focusing on the livelihoods of impoverished individuals. Developed by Robert Chambers and Conway, it assesses vulnerability through various lenses, prioritizing the individual at the center of development strategies. The framework indicates that understanding people's livelihoods is vital during disaster management.

Consider farmers in a rural area. If we look at their livelihood sustainably, we can see how changes like climate change, market prices, and access to support services either enhance or threaten their ability to sustain their farming. This shows how vulnerability is deeply tied to livelihoods.

So, vulnerability is directly connected with people's livelihood and their capacity to manage their livelihood basically. And two major components here, one is the sustainability, and livelihood.

This section explains the direct correlation between vulnerability and individuals' livelihoods. Sustainability focuses on how resilient these livelihoods are to shocks such as natural disasters. It also emphasizes that true sustainability involves self-reliance rather than dependency on external support.

Think of a family running a bakery. If they can manage their resources and withstand market fluctuations or supply shortages, their business is sustainable. They aren't overly reliant on external help, showing their resilience against various shocks.

So, vulnerability context is defined with 3 characteristics that people are at vulnerable because shock, trends, and seasonality.

This chunk outlines that the context of vulnerability comprises three characteristics: shocks, trends, and seasonality. Shocks refer to sudden events like floods, trends describe gradual changes like population growth or market fluctuations, and seasonality encompasses predictable changes that recur over time, often affecting agricultural cycles. All these factors contribute to an individual's overall vulnerability.

Imagine a farmer growing rice. Natural shocks like floods, trends such as a declining number of workers, and seasonal changes in crop prices all define their vulnerability. Understanding these contexts enables better planning and response strategies.

So what are the shocks? One is the natural shocks like flood, drought, and cyclone. And health shocks like epidemic like cholera or even dengue let us say, or economic shocks like some financial recessions.

This section categorizes different types of shocks that can impact vulnerability. Natural shocks include climate events like floods and droughts. Health shocks can arise from epidemics, while economic shocks might stem from financial downturns. Each of these shocks can significantly affect people's livelihoods and increase their vulnerability.

For instance, during a drought, farmers may experience a severe drop in crop yield. This natural shock not only impacts their income but also food availability in the community, demonstrating how various forms of shocks intertwine with economic and social factors.

Another one is the seasonality and seasonal shift in price like the price of the crops of the food for the agricultural labor or the productions because of production is low or high, because of climate change maybe the production is not so high this year.

This chunk explains how population trends and seasonal changes affect vulnerability. Seasonal shifts can influence employment opportunities and market prices for crops. For instance, if climate change leads to low agricultural production, it can result in higher prices and increased food scarcity, affecting people's capacity to maintain stable livelihoods.

Consider agricultural laborers who rely on seasonal work. If it rains more than usual during harvesting season, they might find reduced opportunities for work, leading to increased vulnerability as their income becomes inconsistent.

Now, this vulnerability context actually, this is the poor people and is affecting their household capacity or their own individual capacity. So, they have actually different kind of capitals or capacities.

This section highlights that the context of vulnerability is intricately tied to various forms of capitals that affect individuals' abilities to respond to shocks. These capitals include human, social, financial, and physical capital, each of which influences how well individuals and communities can manage their resources and withstand vulnerabilities.

If a person has strong social ties (social capital), they might receive help from friends and family during difficult times, such as a job loss. Conversely, someone lacking these connections would struggle more, highlighting how different forms of capital play crucial roles in managing vulnerability.

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