A systemic approach to occupational and environmental health.
As the corporate role in occupational and public health receives increased scrutiny, it is essential to recognize that it is not sufficient to identify specific acts of malfeasance or influence, or even to campaign to address them. A more comprehensive and systemic framework for understanding the role of corporations requires consideration of corporate power and its effects as endemic features of national socioeconomic systems and the rapidly integrating global order. The underlying social structures that produce social and environmental problems, and undermine reform, make systemic change necessary. Identifying this "structure of harm" provides important implications for researchers, policymakers, activists, and others trying to address environmental and social problems, particularly with regard to integrating efforts to address immediate impacts with those for longer-term, systemic change.
Spitzer
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Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA. spitzer@panna.org
D004782:Environmental Health; D005006:Ethnicity; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000592:standards*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008402:Mass Media; D016272:Occupational Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012922:Social Change