Introduction : Health and Social Change Past and Present Evidence

Abstract

is widely recognised that the health of individuals and populations is influenced by more than biological factors. Uncountable contributions from many disciplines have shown that the way a society functions, and the ways in which it changes, affects health positively or negatively. Comparing a selection of historical and contemporary processes of social change with each other in respect to their impacts upon health, is one way to further understand the mechanisms at work. That is the main purpose of this volume. Before commenting upon the cases and some lessons we may learn from them, a few words need to be said about the two key concepts. ‘Social change’ is, in this context, used in its wider sense to include socio-economic, cultural and political changes. Special attention is paid to times and places where these processes have been profound and occur with a certain speed. Attempts are made to identify certain elements within this spectre that are particularly important for health. At the same time the sophisticated interrelationship between different sectors of society must be acknowledged, which sometimes makes it difficult or impossible to estimate the exact weight of single factors. Even so, the authors believe that an analysis of a single case as a “narrative” based on theoretical assumptions about the mechanisms of the process, can provide valuable insights when compared with other narratives with similar ambitions