Health Politics in an Interconnected World
An International Essay Competition of the Irmgard Coninx Foundation, the Social Science Research Center Berlin and Humboldt-University Berlin 1 – 5 December 2010
Topic
How can national governments and international agencies respond to global challenges of health and social well being? Despite the fact that health has improved during the last century in many parts of the world health levels are stagnant and even declining due to new forms of poverty, environmental problems or political instability. This does not only effect populations in developing countries and emerging markets but as well growing numbers of marginalized groups in the industrialized world. Here demographic aging and rising health care costs threaten national pension funds and health care insurance systems. These forces render any clear-cut distinction between “developed” and “developing” worlds obsolete, and will affect the health of people throughout the twenty-first century. The workshops will focus on the production of evidence, on negotiating access to health care and on new forms of incorporating politics of locality in national and international health care regimes.
For further information, please see the Background Paper.
Berlin Roundtables
Based on an international essay competition, approximately 50 applicants will be invited to discuss their research and ideas with prominent scholars at one of Europe's leading research institutions. The Thirteenth Roundtables are divided into three workshops that will address cultural, social, and political aspects of health politics today. The workshops will be accompanied by evening lectures by prominent scholars and activists from the field. The Irmgard Coninx Foundation will cover travel cost as well as accommodation in Berlin.
Evening Lectures
The conference will be accompanied by two evening lectures:
Helen Epstein (Journalist and Author)
"Global Health after the Cold War: New Forms of Influence and Dominance"
Frank Gotthardt (Head of Public Affairs, The Merck Group)
“The Praziquantel Donation Project“
Thomas Pogge (Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs, Yale University)
“The Health Impact Fund: A Solution towards Global Health?”
Irmgard Coninx Research Grant
A jury will award up to three three-month fellowships to be used for research and academic networking in Berlin at the WZB. The grant includes a monthly stipend of 1,000 Euro plus accommodation in Berlin.
Application Procedure
The invitation extends to scholars (maximum 5 years after Ph.D.), activists and journalists with expertise in this field.
Essays must be submitted in English and must not exceed 2500 words! In addition to your essay, please submit an abstract (200 words), a narrative biography (250 words), and a CV with publication list (no longer than 400 words).
Co-authorship and already published papers will not be accepted. Participants of the essay competition are required to declare: The essay submitted is the work of only the individual whose name appears on the front page as the author; any parts taken from other sources are appropriately referenced in the essay.
Deadline for incoming papers: 3 September 2010