The Causes of Social Vulnerability to Coastal Hazards in Southeast Asia

This research paper synthesizes 128 scientific articles to analyze the causes of social vulnerability to coastal hazards in South and Southeast Asia. It identifies a significant gap between theoretical conceptual frameworks and empirical case studies, noting that most research focuses on hazard exposure rather than underlying systemic causes. Key drivers of vulnerability include population growth, poverty, and institutional failures. The authors argue that current recommendations are mismatched with these causes, focusing on short-term relief and early warning systems rather than addressing the root socio-economic structures and power relations that perpetuate vulnerability.

• Population growth is identified as the single most frequently mentioned cause of coastal hazard vulnerability in the analyzed literature.
• Factors related to human conditions and basic rights, such as individual and national poverty, inequality, and lack of resource access, are critical drivers that strongly influence other vulnerability factors, including migration.
• There is a profound disconnect between the identified causes of vulnerability and the recommendations for their reduction, with most suggestions focusing on short-term relief rather than systemic underlying factors.
• Institutional factors are seen as influential across nearly all other causes of vulnerability, including poverty and demographic dynamics, yet the specific mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood in the literature.
• A significant gap exists between theoretical vulnerability frameworks and empirical case studies; none of the 46 analyzed case studies employed a conceptual or theoretical framework to guide their analysis.
• The most frequent recommendations for reducing vulnerability focus on increasing hazard awareness, improving early warning systems, and enhancing cooperation between actors.
• Women, children, and the elderly are identified as the most vulnerable social groups, with gender being a primary determinant due to physical strength and caregiving burdens.
• Environmental degradation, such as deforestation and the loss of mangroves, increases physical exposure to hazards and reduces the capacity for economic recovery after disasters.
• The majority of scientific literature on coastal hazard vulnerability in South and Southeast Asia is produced by researchers from North America and Europe, potentially leading to a lack of sensitivity to local traditions and customs.
• Climate change and sea-level rise are among the most frequently mentioned environmental factors contributing to vulnerability, though they are often treated as hazards rather than systemic drivers.

APA

Zou, L., & Thomalla, F. (2008). The Causes of Social Vulnerability to Coastal Hazards in Southeast Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/social_vulnerability_coastal_hazards_thomalla.pdf

Chicago

Zou, Lele, and Frank Thomalla. The Causes of Social Vulnerability to Coastal Hazards in Southeast Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2008. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/social_vulnerability_coastal_hazards_thomalla.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zou |first1=Lele |last2=Thomalla |first2=Frank |title=The Causes of Social Vulnerability to Coastal Hazards in Southeast Asia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2008 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/social_vulnerability_coastal_hazards_thomalla.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zou2008causes, author = {Zou, Lele and Thomalla, Frank}, title = {{The Causes of Social Vulnerability to Coastal Hazards in Southeast Asia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/social_vulnerability_coastal_hazards_thomalla.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }