From Absence to Influence: The World Health Organization and China in Global Health

The primary objective of this monograph is to make a substantial scholarly contribution to the field of global health history, fostering a nuanced understanding of China’s evolving role in the global health landscape and providing valuable insights for contemporary decision-making. Recognizing its multifaceted nature, the project strategically dissects the historical relationship between China and the WHO across five distinct chapters, each meticulously focusing on a specific phase. By meticulously examining these distinct phases, the project seeks to illuminate the intricate dynamics in global health influenced by geopolitical tensions, legal frameworks, collective emotions, and the evolving socio-economic landscape. Through a multidimensional lens that incorporates social, economic, and legal perspectives, the monograph seeks to unravel the complexities of global health governance and diplomacy, particularly within the context of China’s selective engagement and resistance. In navigating the historical terrain, the monograph endeavors to offer a comprehensive understanding of China’s engagement with global health, acknowledging the contextual nuances that have shaped its stance over time. The overarching objective is to empower scholars, decision-makers, and international organizations with the essential contextual awareness needed to adeptly navigate the intricacies of global health and its recent past. By providing a thorough historical context and employing a multidimensional approach, the monograph aspires to serve as a valuable resource, facilitating informed responses and strategies for addressing contemporary challenges within the dynamic and evolving landscape of global health.

Second, this monograph aims to deliver an impartial analysis that incorporates viewpoints from various actors across the global health spectrum. In the historical analysis of global health, the roles played by the global south have often been assessed through a “foreign gaze” (Abímbọ́lá, 2019), promoting the US- and Western Europe-centric superiority. The narrow interpretation of international and global health, which predominantly centers on organizations based in the U.S. or Western Europe and the influence exerted by wealthy countries within those organizations, has distorted the understanding of the history of global health. On the other hand, as China emerges as a major global power and is perceived as a potential threat by many Western countries, the analysis of China’s role in global health has frequently been tinged with bias, overlooking the nuanced complexities of its multifaceted historical context. This monograph, therefore, aims to create a more inclusive narrative of global health without focusing on one actor while side-lining others, which perpetuates systematic biases akin to Orientalism, Occidentalism, or a US- and Western Europe-centric narrative. It aspires to celebrate and incorporate as many perspectives as possible from a variety of actors, extending beyond the limited focus on China and the WHO. By engaging the perspectives of wide-ranging actors, from Europe and North America to Asia, Africa, and Latin America, it aims to offer a balanced and nuanced understanding that transcends systemic biases, contributing to a comprehensive dialogue on the intricate dynamics inherent in global health.