Published In
Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Document Type
Pre-Print
Publication Date
10-6-2026
Subjects
Book Reviews
Abstract
In this attractive volume with color pictures, author Vivian Y. Choi provides a long overview of Sri Lanka’s 1983-2009 Civil War and the events of its climactic days. She details political wrangling surrounding the administration of aid in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, situating this event within context of other national disasters (a cyclone in 1978 and the COVID-19 pandemic). Choi asserts that the Government of Sri Lanka’s handling of security issues related to the ethnic conflict interdigitated with disaster risk reduction efforts, resulting in tightened scrutiny over Tamil and Muslim minorities in eastern Sri Lanka. The book provides a case study of how majoritarian discourses justify oppression of minorities across multiple areas of governance.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2026 The Authors
DOI
10.1111/1467-9655.70243
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/45312
Publisher
Wiley
Citation Details
Published as: Gamburd, M. (2026). Choi, Vivian Y.Disaster nationalism: tsunami and civil war in Sri Lanka. 224 pp., illus., bibliogr. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2025. $30.00 (paper). Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Portico.
Description
Pre-Print