From "Emergency Management" to "Resilient Governance": Paradigm Shift and Theoretical Logic in China's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation System

Abstract

This paper examines the paradigm shift in China's disaster prevention and mitigation system. Against the backdrop of frequent global extreme disasters and the emergence of new characteristics such as the compound nature of modern disasters, the traditional passive emergency management model has become inadequate for governance needs. Resilient governance has thus become an inevitable choice for disaster prevention and mitigation.The paper traces the transformation through three stages: initial exploration, system refinement, and resilience enhancement. It contrasts the core characteristics of emergency management and resilience governance, analyzing the dual drivers of risk and governance logic, guided by developmental logic and value orientation.It also identifies current challenges in resilience governance, such as insufficient precision in risk prevention and inadequate multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms. The article proposes optimization pathways including technology empowerment, strengthening collaborative mechanisms, and enhancing public education. Finally, it outlines future directions for institutionalizing and standardizing resilience governance, along with advancing international cooperation.