About this Event
The past decade has seen widespread political and social upheaval, with the global economic recession heralding a period of austerity, heightened tensions over immigration, and the rise of right-wing populism in many countries. These changes highlight the complex relationship between inequalities, social cohesion and the political economy of health. This one-day symposium will explore the implications for health and inequalities in an ‘era of crises’. The following questions (among others) will be discussed:
• What are the implications of the changing political landscape for social cohesion, inequalities and health?
• Are changing labour market patterns affecting mental health, and are some communities more vulnerable to these changes than others?
• How is the rise of populism linked with representations of social identity and community?
• To what extent does the concept of social capital help us understand the relationship between macro-social changes, inequalities and health?
The symposium will include both international and UK speakers, and is open to researchers, policymakers and advocates.
Confirmed speakers include:
Professor Kate Pickett (York and co-author of the ‘Spirit Level’)
Professor Ichiro Kawachi (Harvard)
Dr Ben Hawkins (LSHTM)
Professor Jamie Pearce (Edinburgh)
Dr Gerry McCartney (NHS Scotland)
The event has been co-organised by the Centre for Research on Environment, Society & Health (Jamie Pearce), the Global Health Policy Unit (Sarah Hill) at the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science – Doctoral Training Partnership.
