Power, Privilege and Priorities: 
Decolonising Political Economy of Health and One Health Approaches
 

Keynote Speakers

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​​Power, privilege and priorities: Decolonising Political Economy of Health and One Health Approaches

Capitalism and corporate interests have been a major driver of colonialism from the 18th to 21st centuries, which has led to increasing inequalities in economic development and health between and within countries. Military imperialism of the past is giving way to more sophisticated, digital ways for the ‘colonialists’ to control us and the ecosystem. Control is also exercised by the stories and narratives that we are exposed to and that we take to be the ‘truth’.

Even as public health practitioners we are caught up by, and our practice and behaviours are influenced by, these narratives. Does this mean that any political economy of health approach that is in opposition to corporate interests, or any One Health approach (an integrated, unifying approach to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems), is inherently decolonised? Or does the colonial mindset still shape the way that we characterise, prioritise and address public health challenges? How does the prevailing political climate inform current processes and interactions between science and policies in the practical implementation of One Health? If we seek to achieve a truly equitable future, how do we prioritise decolonisation to address the injustices of the past and ensure that we don’t perpetuate the same mistakes?

This interactive workshop aims to provide attendees with an opportunity to hear and engage with diverse perspectives to generate genuinely reflective, critical and challenging discussions on the past, present and future of colonialism in public health, particularly the political economy of health and One Health.
 

Questions to be considered:

• How has public health been complicit in colonial practices of the past? How does colonial framing contribute to the way public health is researched and practiced in the present?

• How might this framing influence how we approach local and global public health issues with a political economy lens?

• How might this framing influence how we approach local and global public health issues with a One Health lens?

• How do we examine, reflect and correct this in the future?

• Where is the intersection between political economy and One Health, and what are the implications of the intersection?

• What is the current agenda for a political economy of health approach? Who sets the agenda? Who should set the agenda? 

• How do we ensure that our approaches do not further disempower, drive inequities, or exacerbate power imbalance?

• What can we learn from the successes in public health in the Global North to improve our contribution to justice within countries?

• How do we reconcile the tension between the public health advancement and adverse externalities of economic growth, when we have been the beneficiaries thus far?

• What should we do differently to ensure that voices and knowledge of the colonised are empowered and valued?

 

Ahead of the Commerce, Economy, Trade and Public Health Conference, this workshop will explore these ideas and questions to provide a critical lens to take into the Conference and into future research, policy and advocacy.

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FACE-TO-FACE ATTENDANCE ONLY - Registration is a must; spaces are limited

Workshop cost: $30 PEH-OH SIG members, $50 others, $15 concession/student & First Nations attendees
 

Click HERE to register for the PEH-OH workshop on Sunday 17 November

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