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Cited by 113Health disparities and outcomesPublic Health and Social InequalitiesGender, Health, and Social Inequality

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 107 of the 108 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Health inequalities, fundamental causes and power: towards the practice of good theory

Open access
McCartney, Gerry, Dickie, Elinor, Escobar, Oliver, Collins, Chik·2021·Sociology of Health & Illness
DOI 10.1111/1467-9566.13181PMC PMC7894306
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Abstract

Reducing health inequalities remains a challenge for policy makers across the world. Beginning from Lewin’s famous dictum that “there is nothing as practical as a good theory”, this paper begins from an appreciative discussion of ‘fundamental cause theory’, emphasizing the elegance of its theoretical encapsulation of the challenge, the relevance of its critical focus for action, and its potential to support the practical mobilisation of knowledge in generating change. Moreover, it is argued that recent developments in the theory, provide an opportunity for further theoretical development focused more clearly on the concept of power (Dickie et al. 2015). A critical focus on power as the essential element in maintaining, increasing or reducing social and economic inequalities – including health inequalities – can both enhance the coherence of the theory, and also enhance the capacity to challenge the roots of health inequalities at different levels and scales. This paper provides an initial contribution by proposing a framework to help to identify the most important sources, forms and positions of power, as well as the social spaces in which they operate. Subsequent work could usefully test, elaborate and adapt this framework, or indeed ultimately replace it with something better, to help focus actions to reduce inequalities.

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Arendt H., 1970, On violence
  2. Beeston C., 2013, Health inequalities policy review for the scottish ministerial task force on health inequalities
  3. Black D., 1988, Inequalities in health, 31
  4. Cornwall A., 2007, Spaces for change? The politics of participation in new democratic arenas, 1
  5. Dickie E., 2015, Power is a health and social justice issue
  6. Habermas J., 1975, Legitimation crisis front cover Habermas beacon press, 1975
  7. Hickey S., 2004, Participation – from tyranny to transformation
  8. Hunjan R., 2011, Power: A practical guide for facilitating social change
  9. Luttrell C., 2009, Understanding and operationalising empowerment
  10. Solar O., 2007, A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health discussion paper for the commission on social determinants of health
  11. Wright E.O., 2015, Understanding class

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Metadata

Authors
McCartney, G., Dickie, E., Escobar, O., & Collins, C.
Affiliations
  • Public Health Scotland (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of the Faroe Islands (FO)
Corresponding author
McCartney, Gerry
ORCID
Venue
Sociology of Health & Illness
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-11-22
Volume
43
Issue
1
Pages
20-39
ISSN
  • 0141-9889 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9566
DOI
10.1111/1467-9566.13181
PMC
PMC7894306
OpenAlex
W3107066117
Cited by
110
References
108
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
FWCI
6.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Sociology of Health & Illness (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Funders
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/M003922/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
Keywords
health disparities, fundamental cause theory, power, social determinants of health, social inequality, economic inequality, health policy, knowledge mobilization
MeSH terms
Humans, Socioeconomic Factors, Health Status Disparities

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