2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PIED5202M Global Politics of Health

30 creditsClass Size: 16

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

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

BA in either
- Politics
- International Relations
- International Development
- Health or related subject
Related subjects eg. economics, sociology, history

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 key concepts and provides the opportunity to use these to analyse health issues and the roles of global governance actors in a range of global case studies.

Learning outcomes
Students taking this course will therefore acquire:
- Knowledge of key concepts and experience in using these to analyse health issues and the roles of global governance actors.
- Critical understanding of the political nature of global health governance and practice.
- 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

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 introducing students to the field of Global Health and the political nature of global health governance and practice. We then introduce key concepts and apply these in order to critically analyse contemporary global health issues and the roles of global governance actors.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
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

1 x 800 word literature review [Formative - for peer review exercise in class] 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 type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3000 Word Essay (End of Term)	100.00
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: 30/06/2021 11:55:12

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