Intelligence Squared Simon Schama on Pandemics and the Health of Nations, Part One
Oct 21, 2023
In this engaging discussion, Simon Schama, a renowned historian and author, dives into his new book *Foreign Bodies*, exploring the fraught relationship between pandemics and human resilience. He reflects on the lessons learned from past health crises and the role of nationalism, using historical context to highlight current vaccine distribution challenges. Schama shares poignant stories of activists and pioneers who shaped the fight against outbreaks, illustrating humanity's complex dance with contagion and science throughout the ages.
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Last Drink Before Lockdown
- Simon Schama and Kavita Puri last met for a drink before the 2020 lockdown.
- A doctor friend cautioned against hugging, an early pandemic precaution.
Shift in Focus
- Schama was initially writing about nationalism but shifted to pandemics after COVID-19.
- This shift was influenced by nationalistic responses to the pandemic, like the UK withdrawing from the European early warning system.
Early Global Health Efforts
- The International Sanitary Conferences, founded in 1851, were the first international non-military/peace organization.
- They focused on global public health, predating the World Health Organization.
