Reaganomics: implications for peace and the public health

This article explores the implications of "Reaganomics" for both the health of the public and international peace. The first two sections examine the fields of health and peace, and find that both have been traditionally defined in terms of their opposite condition; that is, health has been operationally defined as the absence of disease, and peace has been defined as the absence of war. For reasons discussed in some detail, a paradigm shift is underway that is forcing a fundamental redefinition of both these terms, with consequent profound implications for professional practice and intervention strategies in each field. Examined from the perspective of these redefinitions, both health and peace are found to be closely linked with the degree to which equity (distributive justice) is pursued as a guiding purpose and goal of domestic and foreign policies. The third section analyzes the impact of Reagan Administration policies on national and international equity, and finds that they have systematically increased existing inequities, with the following consequences: measurable and increasing decrements in the health of the public; and an enormously increased probability of nuclear war. The final section deals with implications for practice of those concerned with promoting both the health of the public and international peace.