A Case for Intercultural Inquiry and Cognitive Justice in the Internationalisation of HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Through the globalisation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), policies and prevention measures related to the epidemic have become increasingly influenced by the knowledge claims of international experts and organisations. This article critically analyses the mechanisms through which international expertise has come to influence the practice of rapid testing within the South African context. Through this analysis the article aims to illustrate the unintended consequences of the process of HIV/AID globalisation and internationalisation. While the article argues that knowledge claims about the pandemic are always produced through an interaction of local and international processes, it contends that these interactions are characterised by inequalities when the experiences of local people and contextual factors are not adequately fed into the process of policy development and implementation. The article concludes by arguing that more intercultural inquiry that prioritises cognitive justice is required if we are to develop more contextually appropriate and effective HIV/AIDS related policies and interventions.