Preparing for the unexpected: A comparative study of policy responses addressing post-terror health reactions in Norway and France
Abstract as pdf
Corresponding Author:
Lisa Govasli Nilsen
Norwegian Centre For Violence And Traumatic Stress Studies Norway
l.g.nilsen@nkvts.no
Author(s):
Lise Eilin Stene1
1Norwegian Centre For Violence And Traumatic Stress Studies, L.E.Stene@Nkvts.No, NOR
Terrorist attacks occurring in generally peaceful and stable democracies are typically followed by a number of political responses designed to meet the needs of those directly affected and of the general population. Because terrorist attacks affect several interrelated parts of society, including health, justice, and security, political measures will often need to be multifaceted and dynamic. Additionally, such emergencies may incite reforms to existing systems. More comparative research is needed in order to gain a better understanding of these responses and how they develop. The main aim of the current study is therefore to investigate how governments in generally peaceful democracies address the civilian population’s needs after a terrorist attack. More specifically, we will look at intentions for action, as expressed through policies and plans, aimed at addressing concerns related to health and wellbeing in the population post-terror. Furthermore, given the broad scope of emergency preparedness to terrorist attacks, this study will look at to what extent policy responses integrate health and security measures.
Using document analysis, we will analyze the plans for post-terror response in Norway and France respectively and comparatively, related to the 2011 attack in Norway, and three attacks that occurred in 2015 and 2016 in France. Walt and Gilson’s (1994) model developed for the analysis of health policy, which focuses on the four concepts context, process, content, and actors, will be employed for this purpose. Through this analysis, the intention is to shed light on how different health systems respond to intentional, man-made disaster, and the degree to which these processes reflect the systems in which they are implemented and the nature of the terrorist incidents. Differences between terrorist incidents and countries will be discussed, including organizational differences in healthcare, varying political histories with regards to terrorism, and differences between the attacks themselves and the affected populations. This comparative case study will provide a better understanding of the complexity of policy responses to terrorist attacks across countries, as well as challenges and opportunities for research and health management of such disasters.
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