{"id":2605,"date":"2026-01-29T08:36:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T08:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/doctoralcollege\/?p=2605"},"modified":"2026-01-29T08:36:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T08:36:56","slug":"military-involvement-in-disaster-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/doctoralcollege\/2026\/01\/29\/military-involvement-in-disaster-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Military Involvement in Disaster Management: Who Leads, Who Is Left Out, and Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hasan Ogredik is a PhD candidate in Politics at the University of Exeter, where his research focuses on European Union disaster risk management policy in peace and conflict, with a particular emphasis on integrating a human rights-based approach. His doctoral work examines how EU policies address the complex realities of disasters and conflict, aiming to bring together humanitarian protection, human rights, and peacebuilding in a coherent framework.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When disasters strike, whether earthquakes, pandemics, or humanitarian crises, militaries are often among the first responders. They provide logistics, medical support, security, and coordination when civilian systems are overwhelmed. Yet despite their visible role, our understanding of how militaries contribute to disaster management remains surprisingly fragmented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do we really know about military involvement in disasters, and what are we missing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the Bigger Picture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing on a single disaster or country, I wanted to step back and see how the field has developed. By analysing 173 publications from 1991 to 2025<\/strong>, this research maps how studies on military involvement in disaster management have evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using bibliometric methods and tools like VOSviewer and AI-assisted thematic clustering, the research identifies dominant themes, influential countries and institutions, and areas that remain underexplored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Shapes the Research Agenda?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key finding is a strong geographical imbalance. Research is dominated by Western countries, particularly the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Austria. Countries with large military capacities and frequent disaster exposure, such as India, Russia, Japan, T\u00fcrkiye, and France, appear far less often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration networks are also highly centralised, with a small group of institutions shaping much of the discussion. Military-affiliated institutions contribute relatively little, highlighting a gap between operational experience and academic knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Crises Shape Research Trends<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research topics tend to follow major crises:<\/p>\n\n\n\n