The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, generated a great deal of discussion in public policy and disaster management circles about the importance of increasing national resilience to rebound from catastrophic events. Since the majority of physical and virtual networks that the United States relies upon are owned and operated by the private sector, a consensus has emerged that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a crucial aspect of an effective resilience strategy. Significant barriers to cooperation persist, however, despite acknowledgment that public–private collaboration for managing disasters would be mutually beneficial.
Managing Disasters through Public–Private Partnerships constitutes the first in-depth exploration of PPPs as tools of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and resilience in the United States. The author assesses the viability of PPPs at the federal level and explains why attempts to develop these partnerships have largely fallen short. The book assesses the recent history and current state of PPPs in the United States, with particular emphasis on the lessons of 9/11 and Katrina, and discusses two of the most significant PPPs in US history, the Federal Reserve System and the War Industries Board from World War I. The author develops two original frameworks to compare different kinds of PPPs and analyzes the critical factors that make them successes or failures, pointing toward ways to improve collaboration in the future.
This book should be of interest to researchers and students in public policy, public administration, disaster management, infrastructure protection, and security; practitioners who work on public–private partnerships; and corporate as well as government emergency management professionals and specialists.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. The Emergence of Disaster-Oriented PPPs
2. Assessing Disaster-Oriented PPPs
3. The Federal Reserve, a Strategic Alliance
4. The War Industries Board, a Responsive Alliance
5. Comparing the Frameworks and the Identity Crisis of Disaster-Oriented PPPs
Conclusion
Appendix: Interview Participants
Bibliography
Index
Reviews
"September 11 and Hurricane Katrina brought into sharper focus the need to understand how the public and the private sector must work together to address crises and disasters. In Managing Disasters through Public–Private Partnerships, Ami J. Abou-bakr undertakes one of the first comprehensive assessments of public–private partnerships as a tool for integrating and improving management of all aspects of the disaster cycle. This very readable study will be of considerable interest to managers and policy makers at all levels of government, and across all economic sectors. This is a must-read book for those planning to design and promote PPPs."—Thomas A. Birkland, Kretzer Professor of Public Policy, North Carolina State University
"If ever there was a time for our Nation to focus on the critical importance of public-private partnerships and their role in national security, now is the time. Fortunately for us, Abou-bakr has put a laser-like focus on the capabilities of such partnerships and the impediments they face. She then proceeds to give solutions—something that, heretofore, has been missing from the discussion. This book is a must read for those who are serious about the security of our Homeland."—Charles C. Krulak, US Marine Corps (Ret.), 31st Commandant. President, Birmingham Southern College
"Managing Disasters through Public–Private Partnerships uniquely addresses the challenges facing US disaster and emergency management resilience. In this work, Dr. Abou-bakr captures the necessities of recognizing the private sector's role in national security and of fostering effective public—private partnerships that, at the end of the day, enhance our nation's security resilience and save lives."—Robert P. Liscouski, senior partner & cofounder, Edge360
"Managing Disasters through Public–Private Partnerships provides an excellent overview of this vitally important aspect of dealing with disasters. By recognizing the critical factors that are required to achieve success, readers of Ms. Abou-bakr’s book will be able to avoid the pitfalls that have prevented the long-term sustainment of previous efforts and chart a path toward fully realized partnerships."—Bryan W. Koon, director, Florida Division of Emergency Management
About the Author
Ami J. Abou-bakr is a lecturer in politics in the Department of Political Economy at King's College London. She holds a BS from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and a PhD in public policy from King's College London. As a “practitioner academic” who spent several years working in the US financial sector before returning to academia, her research is directed toward informing policy decisions and influencing public and private sector decision makers.
