Abstract:
This article examines how governance models serve not only as practical exercises and collective experiences that foster social and territorial cohesion but also as essential resources to potentially rescue Western deomocracies from decline. The work draws on the C2IMPRESS project (funded under the Horizon Europe Programme) focused on disaster-resilient societies. The region studied is located in Portugal, is charactertised by stark territorial inequalities, a scattered ageing population, and faces dual segmentation: densely populated coastal zones at risk of coastal flooding, and inland areas vulnerable to fluvial flooding and wildfires. Environmental threats are compounded by a weak civil society with limited environmental citizenship and proactive engagement, subject to highly centralised risk management systems that prioritise emergecy response over prevention. After highlighting, through surveys and collaborative workshops, that there is widespread unpreparedness for disasters and environmental catastrophes, the authors argue that public engagement, social equity, and participatory governance are crucial to counteract the “tragedy of the commons” while also reinforcing democratic resilience and community solidarity. Outcomes suggest a viable path towards a more sustainable regional future, with more inclusive and resilient systems, aligning technical measures with community-driven priorities, and reinforcing democratic practices in disaster risk management through new ways of risk governance.
