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2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PIED5201M The Global Politics of Health: Power and Inequity

30 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Emma-Louise Anderson
Email: E.L.Anderson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

BA in either
- Politics
- International Relations
- International Development
- Health or related subject

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module aims to provide an understanding of the politics of health and introduces students to contemporary global health issues. We start by critiquing the power of science (the medicalization of health) and introduce students to the political nature of health. We introduce students to ways of conceptualizing power and critically engage with the politics of framing health in security, development, economic and rights terms. The course will then focus on contemporary global issues (for example pandemic flu; pollution, HIV, hunger and nutrition) in the governance and practice of health and how they link to global inequity and local social injustices.

Objectives

This module provides an understanding of the global politics of health. We explore the modern international health system and critically examine contemporary global health issues. It introduces and/or extends knowledge of the concepts of power, security and social justice, and provides the opportunity to use these theoretical frameworks to understand health issues and the roles of global governance actors. We engage with a range of global case studies that extend from the developing world, where health challenges are most acute, to global superpowers that still struggle to ensure health for all.

Learning outcomes
Students taking this course will therefore acquire:
- Knowledge of the global politics of health;
- Knowledge of the concepts of power, security and social justice.
- Critical understanding of the political nature of global health governance and practice – including agenda setting, how these issues are conceptualised and governed, the role of global governance actors (eg. WHO, UN Security Council, World Bank, FAO).
- Knowledge of contemporary global health issues and how they link to global inequality and local social injustices (eg. race, class, gender, religion, geography);
- Ability to critically assess relevant materials, make an argument, and defend it in workshops and written work.

Skills outcomes
Ability to comprehend and analyse competing concepts and to relate conceptual debates to lived realities in different geographical contexts.

Ability to understand the relationship between separate issues, and between the local, national and global.

Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly orally and in writing.

For students from a politics, development, IR background it will introduce them to application of this scholarship to health issues (for example Pandemic Influenza, HIV, Nutrition).

For students from a medicine / public health background it will provide an introduction to politics, IR and development theories and practices, concepts of power, IR theories and global governance actors (WHO, UN Security Council, World Bank, FAO, WHO).

[In the longer term: For medical students it will also prepare them for their medical electives/ the broader real world application of their scientific understandings.]


Syllabus

We start by critiquing the power of science (the medicalization of health) and introduce the different ways of conceptualizing power. We critically engage with the politics of framing health in security, development, economic and rights terms. The course will then focus on issues in the governance and practice of health and how they link to global inequity and local social injustices.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar112.0022.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Students are expected to do a considerable amount of reading, be able to respond to questions regarding the material, engage in class discussions and discuss their reading in prepared student-led workshops presentations, and in a final essay.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A mid term 1,500 word assessed essay, in the form of a bibliographic review of three texts, will encourage critical reading, monitor understanding, knowledge, analytical thinking and ability to communicate ideas effectively.
The tutors will informally monitor individual seminar participation according to engagement, ability and understanding.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 3000 Word Essay (End of Term)80.00
Literature Review1500 Word Literature Review (Midterm)20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/12/2018 10:48:54

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