One Health in a Fractured World: Why Global Health Governance Must Adapt to Geopolitical Fragmentation | Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
The Future of Global Health: Moving Beyond the “One Health” Buzzword
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a global stress test, exposing cracks in our collective armor. While the world focused on vaccines and lockdowns, a more fundamental reality emerged: our health is tethered to the health of the animals we live alongside and the ecosystems we occupy. This is the core of One Health—an integrated approach that acknowledges human, animal, and environmental well-being are inseparable.
However, as geopolitical tensions rise and international cooperation falters, the traditional “top-down” model of global health is failing. The future of pandemic prevention won’t be found in massive, slow-moving global treaties, but in a shift toward pragmatic, polycentric governance.
Why Current Systems Are Struggling
We are currently operating in a world of “siloed mandates.” In most countries, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency rarely share data, let alone budgets. This lack of integration is a structural disaster waiting to happen.
- Funding Mismatches: Most health budgets are reactive, triggered only when a crisis hits. One Health requires proactive, long-term investment in surveillance and ecosystem monitoring, which is notoriously difficult to fund during “peacetime.”
- Geopolitical Fragmentation: As the global order shifts toward multipolarity, trust in multilateral institutions like the WHO has eroded. When nations prioritize national security over global transparency, the first casualty is often the data sharing required to stop a spillover event.
Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic, meaning they originate in animals. As urbanization pushes human settlements deeper into wildlife habitats, the frequency of these “spillover” events is statistically increasing.
The Rise of Polycentric Governance: A “System of Systems”
If global bureaucracies are too rigid to act, who will? The answer lies in polycentricity—a model where power is distributed across local, regional, and national levels. Instead of waiting for a global directive, we are seeing the rise of “mini-lateral” coalitions.
These small, agile groups of middle-powered nations are forming regional networks to share cross-border surveillance data. By focusing on specific ecological or geographical threats—like mosquito-borne viruses in the Americas or avian influenza in migratory corridors—these coalitions act faster and more effectively than global bodies ever could.
Mainstreaming Health into Climate and Trade
The most effective way to ensure One Health succeeds is to stop treating it as a separate “health” issue. Instead, we must bake it into the frameworks that already have teeth: climate policy and international trade agreements.
When nations negotiate trade deals, they should include provisions for animal health, and biosecurity. When they set climate targets, they must account for how shifting weather patterns affect disease vectors like mosquitoes and ticks. By embedding One Health into these existing regimes, we move from voluntary, non-binding goals to enforceable, high-stakes standards.
For policymakers and researchers, the most promising avenue for impact is not creating a new “One Health” department, but advocating for interdisciplinary data integration within existing climate-resilience programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “One Health” approach in simple terms?
One Health is a collaborative strategy that recognizes the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. It aims to prevent diseases that jump from animals to humans by monitoring all three areas simultaneously.
Why is it so hard to implement?
The main barriers are “siloed” government departments (health vs. Agriculture vs. Environment) and a lack of sustained, long-term funding for preventative measures rather than just crisis response.
How does climate change impact One Health?
As the climate warms, disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes expand their range into new territories. Shifting weather patterns force wildlife to migrate, increasing the potential for human-animal contact and disease transmission.
Join the Conversation
The threat of another pandemic is not a matter of “if,” but “when.” By moving toward a more decentralized, pragmatic approach, One can build a more resilient future. What do you think is the biggest barrier to health cooperation in your region? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for deep dives into global health policy.