Interdependence between health and peace: a call for a new paradigm

Health and peace, and their relationships to disease/conflict/violence, are complex and multifaceted interrelated terms. Scholars have proposed a variety of definitions for health and peace. The conceptualizations of health and peace share many fundamental elements, including in their social, psychological (emotional and mental) and spiritual dimensions. We argue that health and peace are inter-dependent in a fundamental causal fashion. Health is always positively or negatively affected by conflict; peace can be directly or indirectly fostered through public health program and policy initiatives. Evidence shows that public health professionals and academics have frequently failed to recognize the inter-dependence of health and peace when conceptualizing, and addressing, issues related to health and peace. In contrast, the present article argues in support of a new paradigm for addressing public health issues related to health and peace; such a paradigm is based on the premise that health and peace are inextricably linked, requiring that they be addressed in an integrated, inter-dependent, fashion. Finally, we emphasize that fostering health and peace requires identifying and promoting positive socio-ecological influences on health, rather than limiting our focus to health deficits and obstacles at the individual or community levels.