Public health and prevention of war: the power of transdisciplinary, transnational collaboration

摘要

Can health professionals prevent the occurrence of war? What ethical obligations do health professionals have to prevent militarism, conflict and war as upstream determinants of health? How can their unique professional and moral authority be leveraged to counter such health-harming events? What strategies and tactics can health professionals use to prevent war and promote peace? These are some of the questions that define the core activities of the Public Health Working Group on Primary Prevention of War (the 'Working Group'). This transdisciplinary, transnational Working Group emerged in 2011 to fundamentally challenge the largely reactive paradigm predominating public health's response to war. It has grown into a vibrant, collaborative group of academics and practitioners with backgrounds in public health, medicine, nursing and the humanities. The Working Group aims to advance a political economic analysis of war and militarism, and a scholar-activist framework to counter war before it begins, through building a collaborative network, authoring research and other publications, advancing innovative educational frameworks and engaging in advocacy (White 2017a). This article describes the group's genesis, activities, successes and limitations, offering lessons for others who are challenging dominant framings and practices promoting war and militarism, and considering how to prepare health professionals to respond proactively to such health threats.