A historical reminder that #epidemics are both biological & social entities; their emergence/governance intertwined wt complex cultural, historical & political contexts/agendas: 1990s HIV/AIDS policymaking in #Iran (chapter13) unesco.org/new/fileadmin/… #Coronavirius #COVID19 #کرونا
#Iran #public_health policy is a biopolitical exercise wt historic successes & failures. 1990s #HIV/AIDS policy shift followed decade of #postwar ideologically motivated coverup. #COVIDー19 coverup is politically motivated in context of both incompetence & credibility crisis
Important historical context to understand #epidemics & #corona coverup. In 1980-90s #Iran vehemently denied the existence of #HIV & pressured dedicated medical professionals. It took a decade of grassroot medical & cultural advocacy to implement policy shifts praised by #WHO. —>
The original coverup/denial was ideology driven. And situated religious & medical &cultural negotiations led by medical experts played a key role in changing the narrative (Their symbolic/spiritual status too had stood the test of the #Cultural_Revolution &the #Iran_Iraq_War).—>
In all Iran’s #public_health success stories (the 80s #population_control, #family_planning, #polio_eradication,rural PC coverage, 90s HIV/AIDS), a competent medical class aligned with revolutionary values and/or pragmatism & political will/ambition of factions of ruling elite.—>
In #COVID19 & its coverup, context is different: 1)Mismanagement & incompetence of a generation of ruling elite with neoliberal values but lacking the expertise needed for IR’s technoscientific ambitions. 2)A crisis of legitimacy/credibility & mistrust in official accounts.. —>
especially in the aftermath & coverup of downing the #PS752 #Ukranianplane, severe crackdown of November #protests & #internetshutdown. 3)A crisis of expertise whereby [scientific or other] experts get increasingly marginalized by political agendas& removed from #policymaking.—>
4) Strategic significance of #Qom & reluctance to #quarantine despite health experts’ calls. 5)Systematic pre #election coverup of #Corona cases to prevent low turnout. 6) Mismanagement of public anxiety despite experts’ calls to raise awareness & mobilize “reliable” media.—>
7. Rapid spread of #COVID19 & nature of symptoms. Unlike HIV, COVID19 is difficult to keep under wraps or blame on stigmatises behavior for >10 yrs. Its mode of transmission, visibility, and speed challenge the official narratives of “foreign conspiracy” & #preparedness claims.—>
All compounded by #US_Sanctions crippling the economy & damaging medical systems despite advanced medical expertise. This poses a significant challenge to a power structure struggling for legitimacy while remaining vulnerable to many threats, including the virus itself.
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