A Study on Australia’s Cooperation with the World Health Organization during the Cold War Period

Main Article Content

Sicheng Liu

Keywords

Cold War, Australia, World Health Organization, health governance, infectious diseases

Abstract

During the Cold War era, Australia’s need for collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) arose from domestic pressures to control infectious diseases and the risks posed by transnational disease transmission. At the same time, Australia’s robust national public health system and advanced medical technologies equipped it with the capacity to engage in global health partnerships. The establishment of the WHO provided an ideal international platform for such cooperation. Australia not only actively aligned with the WHO’s global health agenda but also took proactive steps in regional health governance and international aid efforts, evolving from a mere participant in collaborations to a key regional coordinator. This progression ultimately helped transform the WHO from a Euro-American-centric health institution into a more inclusive and dynamic platform for global health governance.

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