Appeals to autonomy and obedience: Continuity and change in governing technologies in Danish and Swedish health promotion

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The increasingly used concept new public health indicates that a fundamental change has occurred in the goals and methods of disease prevention and health promotion. The change is often said to imply less expert-driven governing of citizens. In this article, governing technologies in the field of public health in Denmark and Sweden are analysed to investigate whether substantial changes have taken place in the governing efforts. In the endeavours unfolded in relation to health examinations for children and pregnant women during the last eighty years, no apparent evidence exists of a significant change in governing technologies. Regulatory, expert-driven and empowering technologies have been used during the whole period; additionally, appeals to autonomy, responsibility and obedience as well as to trust in authorities co-exist throughout the period. The fundamental change is the huge increase in the health authorities' governing ambitions.

Translated title of the contributionAppeller til autonomi og lydighed: Kontinuitet og forandring i styringsteknologier i dansk og svensk sundhedsfremme
Original languageEnglish
JournalMedical History
Volume55
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)27-40
Number of pages14
ISSN0025-7273
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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