The Role of Churches and Religious Communities in Disaster Risk Reduction and Crisis Management in Serbia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66050/d1f6jd72Keywords:
churches and religious communities, disaster risk reduction, crisis management, social resilience, interfaith cooperation, SerbiaAbstract
Churches and religious communities represent important social actors whose institutional capacities, presence within local communities, moral authority, and connections with citizens may contribute to disaster risk reduction and crisis management. This study aims to examine the attitudes of members of the Islamic Community and the Serbian Orthodox Church toward interreligious cooperation, values relevant to crisis management, and willingness to assist the population during disasters and other emergencies. The study is based on a secondary analysis of survey data collected as part of a broader investigation into the relationships among religious communities, security, and defense in Serbia. The sample comprised 1,334 respondents, including 761 members of the Islamic Community and 573 members of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Descriptive statistical measures and an independent-samples t-test were employed in the data analysis. The results indicate that respondents from both groups generally perceive churches and religious communities as potentially important bridges for cooperation in crisis management, with a higher level of agreement identified among members of the Islamic Community. The findings also demonstrate a high level of willingness among respondents to assist competent authorities and disaster-affected populations during natural disasters, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation. Freedom, honor, equality, national security, peace, and solidarity emerged as values of particular importance for collective action during crises. The study concludes that churches and religious communities possess considerable potential to contribute to risk communication, volunteer mobilization, humanitarian and psychosocial assistance, and the strengthening of social cohesion. Their role should therefore be more systematically integrated into local and national disaster risk reduction and crisis management frameworks in Serbia.
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