Describe and explain the pathways between civil conflict and poor population health?
Globalization,
Internal Conflict
& the Resource
Curse
Chapter 12
Key Ideas
Globalization promises advances in health,
technology, and peace but it also presents
challenges for public health
The most contentious working definition of
globalization is that of trade liberalization, often
imposed by the WTO
Poor governance exacerbates the potential for
resources curses and civil conflict
Globalization & Health
Globalization can facilitate migration, expanded
social networks and the diffusion of ideas and
cultures
Potential to bring new health technologies and
advances to people who need them
Unintended side effects exist
More rapid disease transmission
Financial opportunities for corporations that provide
medicines or sell harmful products
Antiglobalization
Some protest a narrowly defined
version of
globalization: trade liberalization
South Korean farmers protesting US beef imports
Tuvalu residents requesting help against climate
change
Anarchist groups
Advocate for stronger international regulations on
free trade
Free Trade: Pros and Cons
Consumers can purchase highest quality goods for
a given price
Some goods can improve health
Cross-border trade may reduce civil conflict
Many nations have fragile markets
Subsidized goods from other nations can exacerbate
unemployment and poverty
Safety standards vary by country
Global Governance & Health
Global governance is still relatively weak in a
number of health-related areas
Environmental health and pollution control within
and across borders
Medication tracking to prevent antibiotic resistance
or counterfeit drugs
Pandemic spread of disease through travel
Civil Conflict & Public Health
Major problem in global governance
Can involve global commodity markets, corrupt
politicians, unscrupulous business partners
More than just injuries and death:
Displacement
Infectious disease outbreaks
Sexual assault/violence
Malnutrition
Mental health problems
Resource Curse
Umbrella term for the ailments plaguing countries
that have great natural wealth but do worse in
terms of economic, social, and human
development
Diamonds, oil
Contributors: government corruption locally and
collusion globally, insufficient taxation, excessive
spending, global markets, overreliance on
commodity prices
China in Africa
China has been important for economic
development in Africa
Loans with market-rate interest
Use of local labor
>44% of aid in 2011 went to Africa
Establishment of economic cooperation zones
Criticized for providing arms and ignoring
environmental consequences of activities
Niger Delta
Oil is a major export in southern Nigeria
25% of GDP in 1980s, >60% by 2000s
Lands
taken from Ogoni people in 1950s led to
conflict in the 1990s when the people demanded
to be involved and the government struck back
violently
Pervasive unemployment, ethnic tensions,
displacement have fueled conflicts up to the
present
Natural Resources & Civil War
Conflict prevention
often depends on good
governance locally and globally
Civil war is ignited or prolonged in conditions that
highlight economic grievances
Governments must regulate removal of resources
and distribution of proceeds
Evidence-based
policies to prevent civil conflict
are sparse, but economic interventions hold
promise