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Politics and Health

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Health Studies

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Overview

The discipline of politics examines the debates, ideas and institutions that surround community organization and collective decision-making about resources. In this chapter, the contribution of politics to health studies is examined. Part 1 considers how politics is defined and how this underpins the various strands of political science. It examines some of the key concepts of political study: power, ideology, democracy, government and the state. It also explores what contribution politics has and can make to health studies. Part 2 considers some of the theoretical and research approaches within political science. It looks at political ideologies, how they offer competing definitions of politics, varied views of the social and political world and divergent views on health and health improvement. A case study explores how recent changes in many contemporary societies, associated in particular with neoliberal economic policies, have led to a greater emphasis on freedom through choice. Individuals are called on to take a greater role in self-care and risk management in relation to their bodies. At the same time, the development of large multinational companies has given rise to a system of production, whereby their size and dominance have provided them with an ability to structure the food market.

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Further Reading

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  • Discussion of different methodologies used in political science.

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  • There are several introductory books on politics and political ideologies. These will enable you to follow-up general points related to the discipline.

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  • In addition, these accessible journal papers discuss the role of politics, and political science, in the study of health.

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Acknowledgements

This chapter draws on Bambra et al. (2005, 2007). We would therefore like to acknowledge the co-authors of these publications, Debbie Fox and Alex Scott-Samuel, as well as other members of the Politics of Health Group (www.pohg.org.uk).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK

    Clare Bambra

  2. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

    Katherine Smith

  3. Glyndwr University, Wrexham, UK

    Lynne Kennedy

Authors
  1. Clare Bambra
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  2. Katherine Smith
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  3. Lynne Kennedy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clare Bambra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health, Community & Policy Studies, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Jennie Naidoo

  2. London South Bank University, London, UK

    Jane Wills

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Bambra, C., Smith, K., Kennedy, L. (2022). Politics and Health. In: Naidoo, J., Wills, J. (eds) Health Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2149-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2149-9_10

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-2148-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-2149-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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