Is there a social justice variant of South-South health cooperation?: a scoping and critical literature review

Birn, Anne-Emanuelle; Muntaner, Caries; Afzal, Zabia; Aguilera, Mariajose

Abstract

Background: In recent decades, global health scholars and policymakers have highlighted the burgeoning role of South-South cooperation (SSC) in health, claiming it constitutes a more just and even-handed approach to health cooperation. But the assertion that SSC inherently challenges power asymmetries and pursues egalitarian agendas and forms of interaction merits interrogation. Here we explore a transformative, counter-hegemonic, solidarity-oriented form of SSC - social justice-oriented South-South cooperation (SJSSC) - as differentiated from other types of health aid. Objective: The objectives of this scoping review are: 1) to determine what is known and discussed through peer-reviewed and grey literature about SJSSC in health; and 2) to identify the different features and principles of SJSSC. This review seeks to inform research agendas and identify implications for policy and practice around SJSSC. Methods: We conducted a search for relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature in eight languages and screened abstracts that met inclusion criteria. We carried out a full-text review and data extraction on included pieces and conducted a thematic analysis identifying a set of repeated themes related to the features and principles of SJSSC. Results: We identified 188 publications meeting our criteria. Through an iterative process, we developed two overarching categories: values and strategies. Each comprises four themes that allowed us to map the ideas and practices of SJSSC depicted in the literature. The values mapped are: an anti-hegemonic world view; equity-oriented and redistributive political values; egalitarian terms of cooperation; and reciprocity. The strategies encompass: solidarity-building; health justice approaches; mutual exchange and collective justice; and challenging interests of dominant classes in the health arena. Conclusion: This review rectifies ungrounded claims about SSC by identifying and mapping the research literature on SJSSC and has relevance for the conceptualization, policy development, and practice of equitable health cooperation.

Más información

Título según WOS: ID WOS:000475883800001 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION
Volumen: 12
Número: 1
Editorial: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Fecha de publicación: 2019
DOI:

10.1080/16549716.2019.1621007

Notas: ISI