Frontline Crisis Response

Frontline crisis response is challenging. Emergency responders, soldiers, and humanitarian aid workers all operate in threatening, uncertain crisis situations on a daily basis. Under intense pressure, these individuals need to make a range of difficult decisions: to follow preexisting plans or improvise; to abide by top-down instructions or take discretionary actions; to get emotionally involved or keep a rational distance? These types of dilemmas define the work but, until now, have not been subjected to systematic investigation.

By integrating a broad range of research findings on crisis response operations, this book conducts in-depth studies of eleven such dilemmas. The comprehensive overview of crisis response research shows how frontline responders deal with these dilemmas amidst the chaos of crises and forms the basis for the formulation of a theory of frontline crisis response. This book will undoubtedly help understand, evaluate, and advance crisis response operations.

- A uniquely comprehensive overview of frontline crisis response research, offering insight into the main theories and research topics
- Presents eleven empirical examples of different crisis response dilemmas with corresponding resources for educators and professionals featuring 'practical lessons' and 'questions for reflection and discussion'
- Integrates recurring findings and observations in order to present a theory of frontline crisis response and explore crisis response improvements