Resilience Through Lived Experience: A Case Study of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Ba Province, Fiji

Abstract

It is well established that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are adversely impacted by climate-induced hazards, and their vulnerability to such disasters is exacerbated by the growing impacts of climate change. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theoretical framework, this thesis critically evaluates the experiences of MSEs in Ba Province, Fiji, and how they have adapted to, coped with, and recovered from multiple flood events. The answers to these questions advance knowledge on resilience - a multi-faceted and contested concept within disaster policy discourse and one that is commonly used as an alternative to managing vulnerabilities. Considering the multifaceted nature of my study, a qualitative research approach was adopted, and data were gathered from ‘talanoa’ conversations with 59 MSE owners and 34 disaster management practitioners, through two validation workshops and direct observations from fieldwork. The gathered data were subjected to thematic analysis under four broad categories: hazard impacts on MSEs; synergistic relationships (vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation); disaster capital; and governance (socio-institutional determinants). My study revealed three key findings. First, MSEs sustained significant damages to property and stocks, as well as disruptions to supply, that related to the external built environment, customers, and suppliers as a direct result of climate hazards. The discussion on impacts also underscored that the vulnerabilities of MSEs exacerbated by the external built environment, which disrupts business operations and complicates recovery of MSEs. To cope with the impact, MSEs draw on various forms of capital across different fields and develop specific habitus. The findings revealed the interplay of capital, where cultural value systems of MSEs had significantly influenced the emergence of other capitals, particularly social capital. I argue that the social networks that were formed through past disaster experiences were not specifically developed to respond to disasters but rather to overcome daily resource scarcity. The third major finding underscores the need for a bottom-up approach to understanding resilience and the need for greater inclusivity of MSEs in formulating policies and programmes concerning them. My research challenges the multitude of regional and national policy configurations setting out processes to enhance the resilience of the businesses, particularly the relevance of these policies to MSEs. Evidence of how neoliberal systems devolve responsibilities for coping with risks from the state to the vulnerable, which arguably oppress levels of social relations, generate certain stereotypes, and contribute to the uneven distribution of capitals are shared. The insights from my research make a compelling case to rethink about resilience-building interventions and policies targeted towards the MSE sector. Often, there is a significant disconnect between policy and practice, which I demonstrate is partly due to the top-down, systematic, ‘one size fits all,’ and deterministic approaches that Disaster Management Institution’s employ in policy development.