The politics and power in caregiving for identity: insights for Indian residential school truth and reconciliation.

“Enemies of the People?” Public Health in the Era of Populist Politics; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

In this commentary, we review the growth of populist politics, associated with exploitation of what has been termed fake news. We explore how certain words have been used in similar contexts historically, in particular the term “enemy of the people,” especially with regard to public health. We then set out 6 principles for public health professionals faced with these situations. First, using th...

Mobilizing Reconciliation: Implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report for Physiotherapy in Canada

One might assume that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) final report1 is about Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is, and it is not. The 528page report, as well as its 94 recommendations, released in June 2015,2 is about and for all Canadians. If you live in Canada, this report is written for you. If you are a health care provider, educator, or leader, this report has specif...

The Politics and Power of Populism: A Response to the Recent Commentaries

The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy

Recent years have witnessed the rise of populism and populist leaders, movements and policies in many pluralist liberal democracies, with Brexit and the election of Trump the two most recent high profile examples of this backlash against established political elites and the institutions that support them. This new populism is underpinned by a post-truth politics which is using social media as a...

Revealing Power in Truth; Comment on “Knowledge, Moral Claims and the Exercise of Power in Global Health”

Jeremy Shiffman’s editorial appropriately calls on making all forms of power more apparent and accountable, notably productive power derived from expertise and claims to moral authority. This commentary argues that relationships based on productive power can be especially difficult to reveal in global health policy because of embedded notions about the nature of power and politics. Yet, it is e...