COVID-19 pandemic has changed global public health
It accelerated longstanding trends – from rise of global science to a confident, dynamic Africa
In @foreignaffairs I lay out how US can't just reverse Trumpism
Instead, it must chart a new path
Thread
foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite…
It accelerated longstanding trends – from rise of global science to a confident, dynamic Africa
In @foreignaffairs I lay out how US can't just reverse Trumpism
Instead, it must chart a new path
Thread
foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite…
It’ll be tempting for Biden team to pick up where President Obama left off
It won't work
We need to do more than simply reverse the shallow and dangerous Trump-era “America First” approach
In the last 4 years, the world changed
And the pandemic accelerated those change
2/9
It won't work
We need to do more than simply reverse the shallow and dangerous Trump-era “America First” approach
In the last 4 years, the world changed
And the pandemic accelerated those change
2/9
3 major factors have caused these major shifts
1. Democratization of knowledge generation & consumption globally
2. Growth of digital technologies that alter global public health
3. Rise of regional organizations like @AfricaCDC, fundamentally changing how GH is governed
3/9
1. Democratization of knowledge generation & consumption globally
2. Growth of digital technologies that alter global public health
3. Rise of regional organizations like @AfricaCDC, fundamentally changing how GH is governed
3/9
And of course, pandemic changes everything
Its most substantive effect?
Global Health was often seen as things that affected the world’s poor
But big challenges of upcoming decades, from more pandemics to climate change, no longer occur “over there”
They are everywhere
4/9
Its most substantive effect?
Global Health was often seen as things that affected the world’s poor
But big challenges of upcoming decades, from more pandemics to climate change, no longer occur “over there”
They are everywhere
4/9
And that means that America and the global north will no longer set the world’s health agenda
@WHO will become more essential but less central
And we have to better account for a powerful, deeply engaged China
So what to do?
5/9
@WHO will become more essential but less central
And we have to better account for a powerful, deeply engaged China
So what to do?
5/9
America must shift toward being a partner not a patron
We need to lean into global science, greater scientific collaboration with the global south
We need to embrace digital technology, use it in ways that protect individual privacy and liberty consistent with our values
6/9
We need to lean into global science, greater scientific collaboration with the global south
We need to embrace digital technology, use it in ways that protect individual privacy and liberty consistent with our values
6/9
We must build direct partnerships with entities like @AfricaCDC because they will be critical to the future of global public health
And we should play to our strengths:
promote human rights, science for the greater good, healthy engagement of the private sector
7/9
And we should play to our strengths:
promote human rights, science for the greater good, healthy engagement of the private sector
7/9
Looking at rise of China, India, the African continent, and other nations as a threat to our global dominance is unhelpful
And will leave us isolated
We should instead embrace a multipolar world and be a strong and reliable partner
8/10
And will leave us isolated
We should instead embrace a multipolar world and be a strong and reliable partner
8/10
When Trump took office, world was already changing
Those changes continued during the Trump years while we were distracted by bluster and nonsense
What the world needs now is new ways for the US to engage
9/10
Those changes continued during the Trump years while we were distracted by bluster and nonsense
What the world needs now is new ways for the US to engage
9/10
If we want a healthier world, we can help bring it about – as partners
Engage and reform @WHO but go beyond it
Build up a growing global scientific community
Invest in use of data in ways consistent with our values
This is the moment to do it
Read the piece if you can
End
Engage and reform @WHO but go beyond it
Build up a growing global scientific community
Invest in use of data in ways consistent with our values
This is the moment to do it
Read the piece if you can
End
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