On May 12, 2008, Wenchuan County in Sichuan China was hit by one of the strongest earthquakes in modern history. In order to provide information for the planning and implementation of recovery policies in disaster areas, Fafo and the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) undertook a research project with three follow-up surveys in the worst-hit province Sichuan. This report compiles the results of three surveys over the entire recovery period. It describes how the affected population viewed the recovery process, and its impact on social cohesion, trust, and satisfaction with government. The report also assesses to what extent the government managed to achieve its recovery objectives, and to what extent the recovery process spurred further social change and development. The experiences and results from this project can also be useful for scholarly and policy purposes in other contexts.
