International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Politics and Power in Global Health: The Constituting Role of Conflicts; Comment on “Navigating Between Stealth Advocacy and Unconscious Dogmatism: The Challenge of Researching the Norms, Politics and Power of Global Health”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Clemet Askheim
Kristin Heggen
Eivind Engebretsen
Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.188
Abstract
In a recent article, Gorik Ooms has drawn attention to the normative underpinnings of the politics of global health. We claim that Ooms is indirectly submitting to a liberal conception of politics by framing the politics of global health as a question of individual morality. Drawing on the theoretical works of Chantal Mouffe, we introduce a conflictual concept of the political as an alternative to Ooms’ conception. Using controversies surrounding medical treatment of AIDS patients in developing countries as a case we underline the opportunity for political changes, through political articulation of an issue, and collective mobilization based on such an articulation.

Highlights

 

 

Watch the Video Summary here. 

 

Keywords
Global Health
Liberal Politics
Chantal Mouffe
Conflict
AIDS
Antiretroviral (ARV)
Treatment
Subjects

 

 

  1. Ooms G. Navigating between stealth advocacy and unconscious dogmatism: the challenge of researching the norms, politics and power of global health. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(10):641-644. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.116
  2. Barnett  M, Duvall R. Power in international politics. International Organization. 2005;59:39-75.
  3. Mouffe C. On the Political. Abingdon: Rotledge; 2005.
  4. Schmitt C. The Concept of the Political. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press; 1996.
  5. Singer P. Famine, affluence, and morality.Philos Public Aff. 1972;1(3):229-243.
  6. Bhopal R. Racism in medicine. BMJ. 2001;322:1503-1504.
  7. Glasford DE, Caraballo KL. Collective action from a distance: distance shapes how people view victims of injustice and decreases willingness to engage in collective action. Group Process Intergroup Relat. 2015. doi:10.1177/1368430215570505
  8. Farmer P, Léandre F, Mukherjee JS, et al. Community-based approaches to HIV treatment in resource-poor settings. Lancet 2001;358:404-409.
  9. D'Adesky AC. Moving Mountains: The Race to Treat Global AIDS. London: Verso; 2004.
  10. Brugha R, Bruen C. A ghost in the machine? Politics in global health policy. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2014;3(3):157-158. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2014.80
  11. McCoy D, Singh G. A spanner in the works? Anti-politics in global health policy; Comment on “A ghost in the machine? Politics in global health policy.” Int J Health Policy Manag. 2014;3(3):151-153. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2014.77
  12. Dahl R. Can international organizations be democratic? A skeptic’s view. In: Shapiro I, Hacker-Cordón C, eds. Democracy’s Edges. Cambrigde: Cambrigde University Press; 1999.
  13. Mouffe C. Rawls: Political philosophy without politics. In: Mouffe C, ed. The Return of the Political. London: Verso; 1993.
  14. Mouffe C. Deliberative democracy or agonistic pluralism. Social Research. 1999;66(3):745-758.

  • Received Date 05 September 2015
  • Revised Date 13 October 2015
  • Accepted Date 13 October 2015
  • First Published Date 01 February 2016
  • Published Date 01 February 2016