Postgraduate Course: Global Politics of Public Health (IPHP11003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines the recent transformation in global health governance, exploring the implications of the proliferation of new actors and emergent challenges for the process and content of health policy. Health policy is increasingly influenced by organisations that have been created to promote trade and development. The course specifically examines the relevance of these international agencies and non-state actors in health policy, mainly the commercial sector and civil society, and the implications of the recent profusion of global health initiatives such as the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and philanthropic foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These actors are examined alongside an examination of contemporary challenges confronting the World Health Organization, discussing initiatives like the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the revised International Health Regulations and ongoing reform efforts as responses to the changing context of global health |
| Course description |
This course examines how the process and content of health policy are being transformed by the powers and policy instruments of international and supranational institutions, and the contemporary challenges confronting the World Health Organization. Case studies to understand these dynamics include discussing the extent to which recent innovations like the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the revised International Health Regulations embody a new mode of global health governance.
Aim: to examine how global health governance and health policy is increasingly being shaped beyond the level of the nation state, focusing on the changing roles of international organizations, the commercial sector and civil society.
This course will enable students to:
- Explore the implications of increased institutional pluralism within global health, mapping changes associated with the rise of key new actors
- Examine challenges confronting the World Health Organization in fulfilling its mandate and assess recent attempts at institutional and policy reform
- Assess the increasing significance of the commercial sector and civil society in global health policy
- Examine challenges to promoting policy coherence across global health, development and trade agenda
- Review global partnerships between public and private sectors in the context of new initiatives to combat infectious disease and NCDs
- Understand the politics and significance of gender in global health policy and governance
- Appraise key initiatives in global health governance, such as the rise of global health partnerships, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and consider proposals for reforming global health governance.
Outline of Content:
Unit 1: Introduction: Governance in and of global health
Unit 2: World Health Organisation: globalisation, crisis and change
Unit 3: World Trade Organisation: Trade and policy coherence in global health
Unit 4: World Bank
Unit 5: Philanthropy
Unit 6: Policy Coherence and Sustainable Development
Unit 7: Commercial Sector in Global Health Governance
Unit 8: Advancing Human Rights through Global Health Governance
Unit 9: The European Union
Unit 10: Past, Present and Possible Futures of Global Health Governance
The course is hands-on, taught through a combination of weekly lectures and workshop. All students are expected to take an active part in workshops, as this is a central part of the learning process. Workshops will use different formats, including group work and discussions, poster and oral presentations to peers, role-plays and debates. You will be expected to read in advance and participate in group work and contribute to wider class discussions.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 65 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course will be assessed via two components including: I) a 3,000 word written essay (worth 70% of the total mark); and II) a 1,000 word commentary (worth 30% of the total mark).
Essay: Students will choose an essay question from a selection correspond to topics discussed in relevant units of the programme. The essay questions will be introduced in the Unit 3 lecture and students are welcome to seek further advice during Feedback and Consultation hours.
Commentary: The Commentary should reflect upon either a key challenge in global health governance or a recent policy development. Students will be encouraged to develop this jointly with a co-author, though will have the option of single authorship commentary. Students will present the topic underpinning their commentary in an oral presentation in the Unit 9 workshop as a formative assessment. The aim of the formative assessment is to gain feedback from peers and workshop leaders on proposed commentary topics. |
| Feedback |
You will receive feedback within 15 working days of submitting each assessment component. This time is needed for marking, moderation, second marking and input of results.
Written coursework is assessed against six interrelated criteria:
- Critical and conceptual analysis
- Strength and cohesion of argument
- Use of sources and appropriate evidence
- Structure and organisation
- Breadth and relevance of reading
- Clarity of expression and presentation and referencing
Feedback on oral presentations (formative assessment) will be given orally during the unit 9 workshops to help refine themes and content that underpin the commentary.
Students are expected to reflect upon and actively engage with their feedback to improve their future submissions.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explore the implications of increased institutional pluralism within global health, mapping changes associated with the rise of key new actors
- Critically assess the ability of the World Health Organization to fulfil its mandate
- Critically appraise key initiatives in global health governance, such as the rise of global health partnerships, the WHO Framework Convention on
- Critically assess the increasing significance of the commercial sector and civil society in global health policy
- Examine challenges to promoting policy coherence across global health, development and trade agendas
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush
Tel:
Email: bkasstan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Casey Behringer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2456
Email: Casey.behringer@ed.ac.uk |
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