Prevention vs. Treatment on the Global Stage: How National Priorities in Public Health and Healthcare Shape International Power and Health Outcomes
Faculty Mentor
Nalanda Roy
Location
Savannah Ballroom
Type of Research
Proposed
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
Department
International Studies
Abstract
National approaches to health are shaped by political priorities, institutional structures, and global positioning. This project examines how countries balance investments in public health (population-level prevention) versus healthcare (individual-level treatment), and how these choices influence both domestic health outcomes and international power. Using Taiwan and the United States as comparative case studies, the research explores how differing health system models reflect broader political identities, shape global health credibility, and affect participation in international health governance.
Taiwan's strong public health infrastructure, effective disease surveillance, and active medical diplomacy have contributed to its reputation as a capable global health actor, despite its exclusion from the World Health Organization. In contrast, the United States' healthcare-heavy system, fragmented public health capacity, and role as a major global health donor illustrate a different pathway to influence - one rooted in resources, institutional reach, and geopolitical power. By analyzing policy documents, international datasets, and existing scholarship, this project investigates how prevention-oriented versus treatment-oriented systems shape states' soft power, global engagement, and ability to respond to transnational health threats.
Ultimately, the project argues that national health priorities are not only domestic policy choices but also strategic tools that shape countries' positions within global governance and the politics of human security.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-21-2026 1:30 PM
End Date
4-21-2026 3:30 PM
Recommended Citation
Antell, Sophie I., "Prevention vs. Treatment on the Global Stage: How National Priorities in Public Health and Healthcare Shape International Power and Health Outcomes" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 53.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026A/2026A/53
Prevention vs. Treatment on the Global Stage: How National Priorities in Public Health and Healthcare Shape International Power and Health Outcomes
Savannah Ballroom
National approaches to health are shaped by political priorities, institutional structures, and global positioning. This project examines how countries balance investments in public health (population-level prevention) versus healthcare (individual-level treatment), and how these choices influence both domestic health outcomes and international power. Using Taiwan and the United States as comparative case studies, the research explores how differing health system models reflect broader political identities, shape global health credibility, and affect participation in international health governance.
Taiwan's strong public health infrastructure, effective disease surveillance, and active medical diplomacy have contributed to its reputation as a capable global health actor, despite its exclusion from the World Health Organization. In contrast, the United States' healthcare-heavy system, fragmented public health capacity, and role as a major global health donor illustrate a different pathway to influence - one rooted in resources, institutional reach, and geopolitical power. By analyzing policy documents, international datasets, and existing scholarship, this project investigates how prevention-oriented versus treatment-oriented systems shape states' soft power, global engagement, and ability to respond to transnational health threats.
Ultimately, the project argues that national health priorities are not only domestic policy choices but also strategic tools that shape countries' positions within global governance and the politics of human security.
