8
Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua
, vol. VIII, núm. 2, marzo-abril de 2017, pp. 5-18
Lee
et al
.,
Relationships between floods and social fragmentation: A case study of Chiayi, Taiwan
•
ISSN 2007-2422
Certain factors have been recognized as crucial
determinants of the degree of a social system,
such as personal property, age, density of build-
ings, single department economics, race, ethnic-
ity, etc. However, few studies have attempted
to conceptualize these factors or thoroughly
examine the relationships between the main
factors and the changes in those relationships.
Considering the regional characteristics of
disasters, most studies have found it difficult
to determine the weightings of measurement
items. Consequently, most social vulnerability
studies primarily measure social vulnerability
without weighting (Cutter, 1996; Cutter
et al
.,
2003; Mendes, 2009). Although measurement
methods can provide an abstract picture of the
vulnerability of a social system, such an ap-
proach cannot easily display details and other
potential characteristics. Such measurements
and the lack of historical data may neglect
potential heterogeneity in terms of the role of
human agency among social systems and the
reflection of institutional mechanisms.
On the other hand, the origins of the term
“social fragmentation” can be found in the
work of Durkheim, who is widely considered
the “father” of sociology (Emirbayer 2002; Syme
2000). Generally, social fragmentation was more
significant than deprivation in explaining small
area variations for mental rather than physi-
cal health outcomes (Ivory
et al
., 2011; Evans,
Middleton, & Gunnell, 2004).
Social fragmentation appears to be the
preferred term, and is generally defined as the
inverse of social integration (Evans
et al
., 2004)
or social cohesion (Cramm, Van Dijk, & Nieboer,
2013; Fagg
et al
., 2008). There is also little refer-
ence to the wider research on the processes of
anomie or social fragmentation at a societal
level, such as work on urbanization (Ivory
et
al
., 2011) or changes in societal structure and
anomie (Makinen, 2000).
Social fragmentation represents weak social
solidarity and a lack of social support, whereby
individuals who belong to a highly social frag-
mented society can hardly cope with the dif-
ficulties they face. Thus it can be assumed that
to some extent, a system based on high social
integration is better able to respond to disaster
or recover from damage. The other crucial point
is that social fragmentation, which denotes the
degree of social integration of a social system,
must result from long-term societal develop-
ment. That is to say, local residents with more
social fragmentation could be uneasy to recover
from natural hazards. But the social integration,
contrary to concept of social fragmentation,
could be the important tools for local residents
to adapt to natural hazards. Therefore, like
two sides to one coin, this paper highlights the
indicators of social fragmentation to catch the
whole concept.
High divorce rate, high migration rate and
percentage of people living alone can cause high
social fragmentation. Therefore, divorce rate,
migration rate and percentage of people living
alone provide effective measurements of social
fragmentation (Dorling & Gunnell, 2003). On
the other hand, the consolidation of the feed,
seed, processed grain, and livestock industries
has decreased the number of small businesses in
rural areas. This decrease has contributed to the
decrease in demand for labor. Rural areas that
once provided employment for all young adults
willing to work in challenging conditions now
offer only partial employment. The situation is
exacerbated by the decrease in services such as
schools, shops, and cultural opportunities that
accompanies the population decline, and the
rising age of the remaining population further
stresses social services in rural areas (Carr &
Kefalas, 2009; Elmqvist
et al
., 2013).
Moreover, the rapid growth of the elderly
population worldwide, and increasing urban-
ization, will influence international trends in
living arrangements, family structure, and the
informal care-giving options available for older
persons (Hokenstad & Roberts, 2010). Vulner-
able socio-economic settlements, particularly
slums, are likely to be especially affected by this
double whammy of urbanization and climate
change (D’Souza, 2011). Urbanization will result
in poor infrastructure in rural areas, including
in the areas of sanitation, treated water, and
