Regarding normative political theories (models) and disaster management, after having read the
text and any additional research you choose, explain the political contributions of Jefferson,
Hamilton, and Jackson. How do these theories apply or relate to disaster management? Which
model do you most support or find applicable/useful regarding disaster management and/or
homeland security and why?
Introduction
According to Sylves (2019), the evolution of emergency management into a profession
and academic field of inquiry dwells on theories, concepts and abstract knowledge, and
experimental research. Normative theories or models provide a way to analyze and categorize
presidential behaviors concerning their policymaking including disaster or crisis policies and
center on self-reflection about emergency managers, students, and others (Sylves 2019, 40). The
three normative theories based on presidential approaches in emergency management will be
discussed.
Political contributions of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Jackson to disaster management.
The first model is the Jeffersonian approach. The nation’s third president and a major
author of the Declaration of independence instigated that public managers obtain "popular and
stakeholder guidance" using political and public consultation. He expected public managers not
only to have skills in consultation, negotiation, and communication but skills to consult the
public and understand public concerns (Sylves, 2019). In this model, the public managers'
decisions are the products of grassroots public recommendations, and their roles are not only to
connect to only the top but rather to form deeper connections with the public, listening to their
concerns and considering them when making decisions.
In emergency management, Jeffersonian emergency managers serve the general interest
of the public because they need community support to thrive and as a result, they rely on local
emergency management committees (LEMCs) or local stakeholders to respond to community
needs (Sylves, 2019). Jeffersonians rely on consultations with interest groups. They are
successful when public requests or needs are solved but fail when public needs are not met.
Earning the media attention and local official backing are influenced by how well community
needs are met. Jeffersonian emergency managers are highly present in the local governments.
Strong community participation is the hallmark of emergency preparedness and planning in this
approach (Sylves 2019, 41).
The second model that will be discussed is the Hamilton model or approach. Hamilton
who was a war hero and the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury concluded that public managers
must emphasize getting results (Sylves, 2019, 43). With regards to public management,
Hamiltonian public managers strive to be experts at decision making and they expect results.
When they elect executives, they judge them based on their efforts and the desired results
because they are more concerned about performance and evaluation under public law and policy.
A Hamiltonian public manager is a technocrat with special knowledge and expertise most
average citizens do not possess (Sylves 2019, 44).
Regarding emergency management, Hamiltonian emergency managers can solve
complex problems based on their knowledge and technical abilities. They can be trusted to act
alone with full authority with their team to meet time-sensitive emergency needs however, the
limitations on these emergency managers are the lack of public participation and consultation to
inform their decisions (Sylves, 2019, 43). This approach has led to a huge transformation in
emergency management because of its contributions from many disciplines. The demand for
results has led to breakthroughs in the field of science and technology, politics, economics, etc.
finding solid solutions and contributing to and preparedness for various emergencies situation.
The emergency of the internet and the World Wide Web, broadband fiber optic, geographic
information system (GIS), etc. are examples of such innovations and breakthroughs used in
emergency planning, response, recovery, and mitigation (Sylves 2019, 44). Of late emergency
management using the Hamiltonian approach has aided Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and other contractors developed Hazard U.S (HAZUS) an earthquake simulation
applicable and adaptable to most of the nation, and Hazards U.S.-Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH), a
powerful risk-assessment software program for analyzing potential losses from an earthquake,
hurricanes, and more (Sylves 2019, 45)
The third model is the Jacksonian approach. Jackson was a two-term US president in
1828, a war hero, and a founding father of the Democratic Party who respected the political and
moral instincts of the common man and as a result pushed for allowing the average citizen
greater political participation hence being dubbed “people’s president” (Sylves, 2019, 46).
Jackson instigated that power must be given more to the state and local level for a more direct
form of governance and to limit the higher influence of the federal government. He believed the
commoner or average citizens must manage their affairs and must not rely on corrupt political
officials. Jacksonian public managers are self-reliant, bold, and individualistic entrepreneurs and
they articulate what they judge to be public desires sometimes in defiance of political elites
whom they less trust (Sylves 2019, 47).
In emergency management, the Jacksonians serve as intermediaries of the state and the
local government by addressing both of their concerns. The Jacksonians like the Hamilton favor
strong executives who can represent the local public for aid during emergencies and meet the
needs of the elected executives they work for however unlike the Jeffersonian approach the
Jacksonian approach does not pay close attention to emergency manger’s educational qualities
but dwells more on charisma. (Sylves 2019, 48).
Which model do you most support or find applicable/useful regarding disaster
management and/or homeland security and why?
With regards to emergency management, all the models are useful in tackling emergencies, and
supporting one model is not an easy choice. Though sometimes combining two models becomes
either difficult or unachievable all models can be used to handle diverse emergencies.
The Jacksonian approach ensures emergency managers become intermediaries between both
local, state, and federal governments to serve the common people however, this type of model
propagates nationalistic interest and sometimes brings constitutional discrepancies (Sylves
2019).
The Hamiltonian approach is needed when making complex decisions to tackle disaster due to
acute emergency demands. According to Rood (2012, 37), the Hamiltonian approach which is a
top-down approach plays a significant role in planning reporting and directing implementation
duties which are seen in most modern bureaucracies. Sylves (2019, 79) asserts that the
Hamiltonian theory and assumption hold out the best prospect for professionalizing the work of
emergency management. Managers in this model fully understand the problem and align experts
in specific fields of study with experts of the administration who come together as a group to
tackle disaster issues, but these experts are driven by results and as a result, forgo local
considerations due to time and sensitive nature of disaster management. They make leadership-
centric decisions onerous and operate distance from the actual incidents (Rood, 2012, 37) which
serves as a limitation of this model
I prefer the Jeffersonian approach because forming a deeper connection with the public and the
community helps emergency managers to better manage, improve, plan, and refine preexisting
emergency management measures for future crises. The National Disaster Recovery Framework
(NDRF) was established through consultation with state and local stakeholder groups that
promote management and consultation schemes by FEMA (Sylves 2019, 63).
References
Rood, A J. (2012). Public Participation in Emergency Management. Dissertations and
Theses. 1-163. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.333
Sylves, R. T. (2019). Disaster Policy and Politics: Emergency Management and Homeland
Security (3rd ed.). VitalSource Bookshelf version. Retrieved from vbk://9781506368702
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