Examining the political economy of knowledge in responses to the 2009-10 influenza pandemic, To Pandemic or Not? Reconfiguring Global Responses to Influenza argues that globally, and in many individual nations, techno-scientific narratives constructed by bio-medical actor networks failed to correspond with the more variegated narratives of multifarious global publics, and so struggled to recruit support and maintain credibility and authority. With reductive narratives constructed by bio-medical actor networks confounded by the uncertainties intrinsic to the influenza virus, the complexities of the disease in individuals, and compromised by continuing ignorance, political and cultural forces became dominant.

Universalistic, one-size-fits-all responses drawn from reductive science are therefore argued to be insufficient, and possibly misguided. Planning and response efforts must consider diverse local settings and concerns. Reductive technical framings emerging from tight, unreflexive actor networks may prevent other options from emerging, and limit response pathways. Such narrow, technocratic responses are not only at odds with the varied understandings, needs and priorities of different people in different parts of the world, but also favour rich, industrialised nations.

In conclusion the paper argues that the world would be better protected by a re-ordering of pandemic preparedness and response efforts around the needs of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable, and most exposed people. A re-ordered response would allow the undue pre-eminence of pharmaceuticals to be examined, and bring into focus the pressing need for disease surveillance in animals, along with scrutiny of contemporary agricultural practices. A re-ordered response might also refresh the World Health Organization, which currently supports an inflexible and narrow set of interests by default rather than conspiracy, and encourage a broadening of research efforts.

Preparing for an influenza pandemic means preparing for surprises and being ready to respond rapidly and flexibly under conditions of uncertainty. If people everywhere are to be engaged, plural and diverse response pathways are required.

Limited period 20% discount

To coincide with our Pandemic Flu Controversies workshop you can recieve a 20% discount on two relevant titles in our Pathways to Sustainabilities Avian Flu and Epidemics books until 11 February 2013 via the www.routledge.com website using the following codes:

Epidemics: Science, governance and social justice edited by Sarah Dry and Melissa Leach. DISCOUNT CODE: EP120

Avian Flu: Science, politics and policy edited by Ian Scoones. DISCOUNT CODE: A120