Health Activism

"Activism is action on behalf of a cause, action that goes beyond what is conventional or routine. What constitutes as activism depends therefore on what is ‘conventional’ as any action is relative to others used by individuals, groups and organizations in society. Health activism involves a challenge to the existing order whenever it is perceived to lead to a social injustice or health inequality and uses a range of tactics that vary according to the function, structure and purpose of those trying to redress the imbalance of power that has created the situation in the first place."

"Global economic conditions have given rise to many governments pursuing a tighter political and economic agenda…freezing benefits and welfare payments and reducing opportunities for community empowerment…Government policies are promoting economic conservatism, individualism and personal responsibility for one's own life and health. This neoliberal ideology is attractive to politicians because it (falsely) promises easily quantifiable and achievable results within a short-time frame, is relatively simple and offers powerful financial incentives for savings in health-care services…In the present global political and economic climate health activism faces a number of challenges in trying to influence the perpetrators of social injustice and inequality including individualism, unsupportive political environments…"

"Health activism is political as its actions depend on, and have consequences for, the political context in which it occurs. Those in governance with decision-making control can be supportive (democratic, liberal and egalitarian) or unsupportive (undemocratic, authoritarian and inegalitarian) towards health activists."

"Supportive political contexts provide numerous channels for the involvement of civil society, have multiple political parties, a free and fair electoral system and a ‘free media’. There is a clear and constitutional separation of political parties, the legal system…people are able to participate in a meaningful way…People can conventionally express their discontent by attending a planning meeting, voting, signing a petition or writing a letter to lobby someone in a decision-making position. However, those who are low on the social gradient are often unsuccessful in using such an indirect strategy because they lack the resources and political leverage necessary to have an influence. People who can persuade others to make changes, do so by using direct tactics that include a show of support, for example, through mass demonstrations. These actions are also symbolic, challenging government decisions and sending a message to politicians and policymakers about their grievances. The purpose is to shift political opinion about a particular decision, especially when it favours one group's interests or has not yet arrived at a firm view on an issue. If necessary people can also use stronger tactics to force others to change their mind through, for example, legal action and disruptive behaviour such as union strikes."

"Unsupportive political contexts have closed leadership, are authoritarian…no free and fair electoral or legal system…Under these circumstances people must seize control through collective action, firstly at a localized level, and then through broader social and political change, making strategic decisions about what tactics they can use. Oppressive forms of governance, dominated by elite group interests, do not allow civil society organizations to function…Community action is tightly controlled and people must therefore use the only significant resource they have, the capacity to cause trouble. The tactics used are unconventional and increasingly disruptive. The civil disobedience, public support and the reaction of the government become the basis for political influence. It is a risky option but one that historically has given rise to dramatic social and political change…"

Glenn Laverack. Health Activism. Health Promotion International, Volume 27, Issue 4, December 2012, Pages 429–434, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/das044