Fighting Flu

Securitization and the Military Role in Combating Influenza

Bibliographic Data

ID2340962
AuthorsChristopher Watterson (University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), Christopher J Watterson (0000-0003-4638-169X, The University of Sydney), Adam Kamradt-Scott, Adam Kamradt‐scott (0000-0002-4901-4898, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume42
Issue1
Pages145-168
Publication date2016-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArmed Forces & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0095-327X • E-ISSN: 1556-0848
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0095327x14567364
OpenAlexW2065618322
LanguageEN
Citations received10

The growing trend toward the securitization of infectious disease has legitimated a role for national militaries in responding to public health crises. This apparent 'militarization' of health has met with resistance from the health and security sectors alike, who argue that it risks politicizing health outcomes while also draining limited military resources. This article attempts to place such concerns within the broader historical context of military involvement in public health. With specific reference to pandemic influenza-a disease of great historical import and a current policy priority in the context of securitized global public health-this article details the pedigree of military involvement in fighting the disease and draws on the established record to demonstrate the role that militaries can play in improving public health outcomes. The article argues for an ongoing military role in the global fight against pandemic influenza, both in augmenting civil influenza programs and in improving their own preparation and response mechanisms for future pandemics

Business · Context (archaeology) · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Global health · Health care · Infectious disease (medical specialty) · Militarization · Pandemic · Political science · Politics · Public health · Public relations · Securitization · Global Security and Public Health · Health and Conflict Studies · Law · Medicine · Public Administration · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research

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