How Politics Makes Us Sick

This book makes a powerful case that neoliberalism, the dominant economic and social policy paradigm of the post-1980 world, is hazardous to our health. It describes the destructive effects on health and health inequalities of neoliberal policies including labour market deregulation, welfare state retrenchment, and austerity, drawing on cross-national examples particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom.

The book argues that a variety of adverse health outcomes, and in particular health inequalities, must be seen as 'neoliberal epidemics': neoliberal because they are associated with the rise of neoliberal politics; epidemics because they have been rapidly transmitted across borders at a rate seen in epidemics of biological contagions.

The health case against neoliberalism has strengthened dramatically in the decade since the first edition was published and this fully updated and expanded edition provides a comprehensive overview of the main issues. Articulating alternatives that protect the health of people and planet is more urgent than ever. Crucially, the authors argue that neoliberal epidemics require a political cure in the form of a revitalised and equity-oriented social democracy.

Explains why and how 'the economy' can be bad for your health, and who made that happen Synthesizes evidence from multiple disciplines, from microbiology through to epidemiology, political science and medical anthropology Fully updated and with new material on the commercial determinants of health and the politics of the COVID-19 pandemic

Autorentext

Ted Schrecker is Emeritus Professor of Global Health Policy at Newcastle University (United Kingdom). He is a Canadian political scientist who worked in the UK for ten years before returning to Canada in retirement. Clare Bambra is Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University (United Kingdom). Her research examines health inequalities.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Neoliberalism: What it is and what it does.- The 'inequality machine'.- The many dimensions of insecurity: How politics makes our work and lives precarious.- Explanations: How neoliberalism gets under our skin.- Austerity: how politics pulled away our safety net.- 'Lethal but legal': The corporate connections (commercial determinants of health).- Pandemics: How politics exposes us.- Building back better?.