Browse Hierarchy POL317: Global Politics of Health and Disease

Why do people die of preventable diseases? Are global health threats the biggest security concern of contemporary world politics? It is politics rather than science and medicine that limits disease eradication? Is Bill Gates more powerful than the US President? This module engages with these questions as it explores the key components of the global politics of health and disease: health security, global health governance, inequality and political economy of health. Over 11 weeks students will be encouraged to develop their own interests in global health in collaboration with the module leader. The lectures will focus on the broad themes of global health politics e.g. actors in global health, right to health, equality; and the seminars will provide a space for lively discussion around contemporary global health issues such as Ebola, Zika, and HIV/AIDS. Class learning will be supplemented by independent learning by students and voluntary attendance at a range of global health events in London (e.g. film screenings, talks, careers events). The module is for any student with a keen interest in this specialised area of International Relations and wants to develop their knowledge and learning in a new field of study. While there are no module pre-requisites, students are encouraged to be familiar with the main theories of International Relations and Global Governance.