The module will explore how disease and disaster affect society and the state, and how states and societies can respond and be resilient. We will look at the economic, social, psychological and political implications and responses to disease and disaster from an inter-disciplinary perspective.
We also examine how states build capacity, and the importance of state -societal, and interpersonal trust. In doing so, we also look at the changing definitions of human security.
1. To develop students knowledge and understanding of the conceptual and methodological issues associated with the study of disease and disaster
2. To provide the opportunity for students to learn about existing research on disease and disaster, and offer an overview of the key concepts along with an introduction to competing theories on human security and state capacity
3. To develop and promote students’ general analytical skills and capacities to undertake subsequent academic study and for employment, personal development and participation.
4. To maintain an intellectual environment that is exciting and challenging, fostering students' capacities for study and dialogue and maintaining high standards of teaching and learning.
5. To enhance students’ skills in teamwork, technical skills, research techniques, critical thinking and writing.
1. To develop an in-depth understanding of what we mean by resilience, including economic, political, societal and psychological forms of resilience
2. To understand how to define and measure state capacity, and analyse how state capacity is critical to responding effectively to disease and disasters
3. To acquire a capability to examine models of governance for their achievements in dealing effectively with disease and disaster
4. To understand what we mean by regime type, and how regime type can explain variation to state effectiveness in responding to a crisis
5. To understand and analyse how states cooperate or fail to cooperate in addressing a crisis
6. To evaluate the role of international actors in responding to a crisis
Week 16: What is the state?
What do we mean by the state? This week will provide an overview of what role the state plays in providing: public health care system, environmental management, engineering, urban planning, education, nutrition, agriculture, sanitation. The seminar then explores how states can build capacity (such as effective institutions for public health and water management) to handle these challenges posed by diseases and disasters. The key success stories are highlighted to illustrate what states can do to reduce the prevalence and alleviate the adverse effects of disease and disaster.
Summers, J., Cheng, H.Y., Lin, H.H., Barnard, L.T., Kvalsvig, A., Wilson, N. and Baker, M.G., 2020. Potential lessons from the Taiwan and New Zealand health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, p.100044.
Week 17: Political resilience, part I
Democracies, Dictatorship and disease
Are democracies better than authoritarian regimes at managing crises posed by disease and natural disaster? This seminar explores the questions about authoritarian exceptionalism and investigates how regimes react to these crises? The seminar covers the work by authoritarian regimes to conceal valuable information that is critical to dealing with a crisis early on and demonstrates how personalist regimes are particularly ineffective and dangerous in dealing with crises.
Pletka, D. March 14th, 2020 How Dictators Make Pandemics Worse. AEI.
Week 18: Political resilience part II
Populism, disease and disaster
Disease and disaster management often necessitates technical and scientific expertise, something that populist leaders eschew. This week explores how populist leaders have responded to these crises compared to technocratic counterparts.
Gugushvili, A., Koltai, J., Stuckler, D. and McKee, M., 2020. Votes, populism, and pandemics. International Journal of Public Health, 65(6), pp.721-722.
Daniszewski, J. July 23rd, 2020. In struggle against pandemic, populist leaders fare poorly. AP.
Week 19: Case Study: AIDS, Malaria, TB and NTDs
This week looks at what governments can do address AIDS, malaria, TB and NTDs. The week will also look at the growing pharmaceuticization of health care which fails to address prevention
Ezrow, N.M., 2015. State-led Malaria Control Efforts in the Developing World. Journal of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, 6(2).
Week 20: Case study: Hurricanes and Earthquakes
This week looks at what states can do to address hurricanes and earthquakes. It also looks at the failures to address climate change regarding hurricanes.
Lovett, R. March 1st, 2010. Why Chile fared better than Haiti. Nature.
Poster due
Week 21: Societal/psychological effects and resilience
This week looks at sociological effects of disease and disaster events and the societal response such as how societies with high levels of trust can respond effectively.
Week 22: Psychological resilience
This week looks at the psychological response to a crisis and how individuals can be more resilient in dealing with extraordinary situations.
Week 23: International cooperation in Disaster Governance
This week looks at the role of states in cooperating to respond to a crisis. In many cases some natural disasters know no borders, requiring cooperation at a global scale to help other countries deal effectively with a crisis. This week looks at successful cases of international cooperation and also at the challenges of cooperating.
Tierney, K., 2012. Disaster governance: Social, political, and economic dimensions. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 37, pp.341-363.
Week 24: World Health Organization and International Response
This week looks at the role of international institutions in managing a response to a crisis and some of their limitations in containment, mitigation and coordination. This week also looks at the role of vaccines, medication and how international organizations and NGOs can deliver services that are vital to ensuring public health.
Fidler, D.P., 2010. The challenges of global health governance. Council on Foreign Relations, Incorporated.
Week 25: Reading week and assignments due (take home test)