Book: Diseases of Globalization: Socioeconomic Transitions and Health

Abstract

Diseases of Globalization: Socioeconomic Transitions and Health by Christine McMurray, Roy Smith. Earthscan, £16.95, pp 200. ISBN 18538 3 711 3. Rating: ★★★ Since 11 September, we have all become acutely aware of what a small world we live in, of how vulnerable we all are to one of the worst diseases of globalisation—terrorism. The extent to which our lifestyles in the affluent North contribute to the poverty and alienation that breed terrorists has been hotly debated. This book, published before 11 September, sets out to examine the impact of modernisation and globalisation on health. It explores the manner in which a global political economy has developed and the role of global capitalism. The authors make clear that the correlation between health and wealth is only partial, demonstrated, for instance, by the economic ability of people to buy imported junk food rather than nutritious, but low status, local produce. The book claims to differ from previous studies of health and lifestyles in that it considers factors at individual and community levels as well as at a global level. Specifically, it examines three case studies of marginalised communities: Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and the Marshall Islands. Comparing these three communities, it describes the demographic and health transitions that have occurred. Much of the information in this section is fascinating but, unfortunately, also often repetitive. It reads as a composite of two academic publications and, while providing a rich supply of references, would have benefited from more aggressive editing. The authors are clearly experts in their field. Christine McMurray is the demographer at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and Roy Smith is codirector of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies at Nottingham Trent University. However, there are places where they seem to be merely stating the obvious. For example, in describing the lifestyle of young people in the urban areas of the Marshall Islands, they say, “A favourite activity of adolescent boys is to establish gangs with their own rituals and signs, which contribute to the close bonding of sibling groups.” Surely this is not specific to the Marshall Islands? A few questionable medical statements have also crept in. The traditional Mongolian lifestyle, with lack of toilet facilities, is said to be associated with “genitourinary tract conditions including gallstones.” Somewhat frustrating is the lack of acknowledgement of the responsibility that we, in the North, must take for the effects of putting multinational profits ahead of health and wellbeing. The book, however, makes for stimulating reading and might help to make sense of the lives of some of the people and patients we see in our surgeries, outpatient clinics, and, perhaps particularly, teaching sessions.