Available in 2024
Course code

SOCA6100

Units

10 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

This course explores how social and cultural dimensions of globalisation influence the making of international health. The uneven nature of many globalisation processes (such as the transnationalisation of: market/corporate capitalism, post-welfare policies, new technologies, population movements, consumerist cultural values and attitudes, financial crisis, food and environments insecurities, as well ethnic conflicts and violence) will be analysed in terms of their consequences for public health in different social contexts. The course helps students to develop a better understanding of the major challenges posed by the global worlds and culturally distinctive local practices to health and well-being in the 21st Century and the roles that different agents, organisational bodies and body politics play in dealing with health problems, both locally and globally.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Callaghan

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Online

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Evaluate an understanding of social science approaches to international, local and global health.

2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the social, economic, political and cultural factors involved in the creation, reproduction and perpetuation of health problems at local and global levels.

3. Critically engage in assessing and analysing local, global and international health literature through employing a global justice perspective.

4. Develop social science analytical skills through a cross-societal and critical study of international health issues.


Content

The course will introduce students to major issues in international health, global social change, inequity and inequality. It will explore the socio-economic, cultural and political determinants of health at local, global and international levels by focusing on both inequities and inequalities in the distribution of risks, responsibilities, power and opportunities across and within societies. The course provides students with an opportunity to broaden their views by adopting different perspectives in their inquiry into the social, cultural, economic and political determinants of public health and critical social science perspectives.

Substantive topics may be drawn from a range of areas including: theoretical approaches to health and development; gender/caste/class and health inequalities; poverty and population problems; approaches to HIV/AIDS; location-specific health concerns; civil conflicts and their impacts on health and well-being; recent bio-technological advancements such as GM food production, nano-technologies, as well as international health policies.

Topics may include:

  1. Local, international and global approaches to health: past trends and present challenges, key concepts, key issues;
  2. Pathologies of globalisation and public health: theoretical frameworks and perspectives;
  3. Globalisation of health concerns, environmental hazards, risks and communicable and non-communicable diseases;
  4. International health and global inequalities and inequities (transnational class, income, food and energy security);
  5. Gender, age and international health;
  6. Transnational population movements, ethnicity and health;
  7. The local and global commercialisation of medication, corporate capitalism, market economy, and free trade;
  8. International health and the globalisation of post-welfare (neo-liberal) policies;
  9. International health and global players (international development and health programs and International Organisations such as WHO, INGOs and social movements);
  10. Towards a Global Justice and Human Rights Approach to International Public health;

Assumed knowledge

Undergraduate degree majoring in a Social Science, Health, or related discipline.


Assessment items

Participation: Participation in Blackboard discussions

Essay: Essay 1

Essay: Essay 2


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan

Lecture-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
  • Participation in Online activities
Seminar-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1

Semester 1 - 2024 - Online

Lecture-1
  • Online 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
  • Participation in Online activities
Seminar-1
  • Online 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline