DISPLACEMENT, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACE: A STUDY OF TWO CHILEAN COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Socio spatial relationships of people and communities are affected by processes of displacement due to socio-natural disasters. Based on the experiences of the disintegrated community of Chaitén by the eruption of the Chaitén volcano and the community which remained united in Constitution after the earthquake of 2010, this research explores how the experienced processes affect levels of place identity and place attachment, as well as in sense of community and participation. The studied communities express different spatial and relational  with their origin and actual neighborhood. Differences evidence that community bonds and psychological aspects must be considered as central in the development and implementation of displacement or reconstruction strategies post disasters. The survey considered a total of 224 individuals.