The International Politics of Global Health

Course description:
According to WHO’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, “the poor health of the poor, the social gradient in health within countries, and the marked health inequities between countries are caused by the unequal distribution of power, income, goods, and services, globally and nationally. This unequal distribution of health-damaging experiences “is not in any sense a ‘natural’ phenomenon but is the result of a toxic combination of poor social policies and programmes, unfair economic arrangements, and bad politics”. This module will provide students with an introduction to political theory, globalisation and the global political economy of health, before enabling students an opportunity to learn about the actors, structures and politics of global health governance and international health policy. The latter will include learning about global actors such as WHO, the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; as well as the role of civil society organisations and social movements in promoting global health equity.

Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students can expect to have acquired:
• An understanding of key political concepts and theories related to global health
• A general knowledge of the organisation and conduct of global health governance
• Knowledge regarding policies, programmes and responses to the following global health priorities through a political lens: AIDS, TB and Malaria; global pandemic threats; migration and refugees; climate change; and universal health coverage.
• The ability to describe how global health governance is governed and organised and critically assess the influence of politics in the shaping of global health policy.

Assessments:
The course assessments are not compulsory, however, if you wish to transfer credit for this course to your home university it is essential to complete the assignments.

Preparation:
Before you arrive on campus, it is advised that you familiarise yourself with the course content before it begins. You will be given instructions for accessing our Virtual Learning Environment (QMplus) before you arrive on campus.

Teaching:
The course is taught in two two-hour sessions per day (10.00 - 12.00 and 13.00 - 15.00), held Monday to Thursday each week.