After Tragedy Strikes: Why Claims of Trauma and Loss Promote Public Outrage and Encourage Political Polarization

Public accusations, social blame, grief, anger, memorialization, and collective action define de facto public tragedies, which are notorious public events that generate political reactions such as denial, denunciation, counterclaims, blame avoidance, and a competition to control memories of the event. These tragedies have become ubiquitous and epochal, according to After Tragedy Strikes, as a result of the historical context in which they occur and the role played by political elites, the media, and an ideology of victimhood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 09 April 2024
Publisher: University of California Press

While trauma and loss can occur anywhere, most suffering is experienced as personal tragedy. Yet, some tragedies transcend everyday life's sad but inevitable traumas to become notorious public events: de facto public tragedies. In these crises, suffering becomes publicly visible and lamentable. Such tragedies are defined by public accusations, social blame, outpourings of grief and anger, spontaneous memorialization, and collective action. These, in turn, generate a comparable set of political reactions, including denial, denunciation, counterclaims, blame avoidance, and a competition to control memories of the event.

Disasters and crises are no more or less common today than in the past, but public tragedies now seem ubiquitous. After Tragedy Strikes argues that they are now epochal—public tragedies have become the day's definitive social and political events. Thomas D. Beamish deftly explores this phenomenon by developing the historical context within which these events occur and the role that political elites, the media, and an emergent ideology of victimhood have played in cultivating their ascendence.

Public tragedies are defined by their ability to evoke widespread emotional responses and mobilize collective action. They often involve significant loss of life, destruction of property, and disruption of social order. Examples of public tragedies include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods, as well as man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks, industrial accidents, and mass shootings.

One of the key characteristics of public tragedies is their ability to shape public opinion and political discourse. They can create a sense of urgency and mobilize people to take action, whether it be through donations, volunteering, or political activism. Public tragedies can also be used as a tool by political elites to gain power and influence. They can use the media to shape public perception of the event and use the crisis to promote their own political agendas.

However, public tragedies can also have negative consequences. They can create a sense of trauma and loss that can last for years, and can lead to social division and resentment. They can also be used as a cover for political corruption and incompetence, as politicians may use the crisis to avoid accountability and to gain support for their own policies.

In conclusion, public tragedies are a significant social and political phenomenon that can have profound effects on individuals and society as a whole. While they can evoke widespread emotional responses and mobilize collective action, they can also have negative consequences. It is important for policymakers and the media to be aware of the potential impacts of public tragedies and to work to mitigate their effects and promote healing and recovery.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520401075