210068 SE BAK10: International Politics and Development (2023S)

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that depression and anxiety increased by 27.6% and 25.6%, respectively, in the first year of the pandemic (however, the studies are to a lesser extent based on data from low and middle income countries, a general problem in this area). Mental health has received little attention in the social sciences, despite the fact that since the inclusion of mental health in the SDGs, this area has been increasingly identified as relevant to global development.

In this course, we will begin by examining the field of psychology and psychiatry in the context of colonialism. Based on studies of psychiatry and health institutions as sites of confrontation between colonial rule and indigenous populations, we examine intersectional relations of domination and political dynamics that shaped and sustained colonial exploitation.

Furthermore, we look at the emergence of trauma theory and the impact of experiences of discrimination on mental health. What role do social conditions play in general for psychopathologies? How do psychopathologies change over time and what impact do the economization of all areas of life and socioeconomic uncertainties have on our social relationships and on mental health?

In addition to questions about what is meant by mental health, identifying vulnerabilities, resilience factors, and structural causes of mental distress, we examine the unequal access to health care in general and mental health care structures in particular. We jointly explore mental health data and analyze global standards and action plans.