Geopolitics in Health: Confronting Obesity, AIDS, and Tuberculosis in the Emerging BRICS Economies

Gómez is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Development at King’s College London and a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.. Eduardo J

Gómez takes a critical look at how the emerging BRICS economies dealt with the obesity, AIDS, and tuberculosis epidemics. In recent years, political leaders in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, collectively known as the BRICS, have worked to reformulate international discussions and policies on issues ranging from fair and free trade to human rights. The first book of its kind to conduct an in-depth comparative historical analysis of how the BRICS deal with public health threats, Geopolitics in Health demonstrates the value of positive geopolitical positioning and strong partnerships with other governments, nongovernmental organizations, and social health movements.. Despite the countries having similar international political and economic ambitions, Gómez finds that domestic policy responses were driven mainly by international, as opposed to domestic, pressures and interests. When it comes to health epidemics, however, the BRICS have differed greatly in terms of howand whenthey respond, highlighting important differences in their political commitment to meetin

"This well-researched volume, which illustrates how the BRICS' geopolitical ambition shapes their responses to health crises, provides a novel approach to international health governance." (Amy S. Patterson, The University of the South, author of The Politics of AIDS in Africa)