The Care for the Self as a Practice of Statehood: Malaria and State-formation in Mandatory Palestine

• In Event: 261 - Section on Political Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 09. Political Dynamics of Individual Actions

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between malaria eradication campaigns and state-formation. It studies the cultural and institutional aspects of attempts to discipline subjects, focusing on notions of "Self Help", "Self-Care" and "Self-Support" that underlie antimalarial initiatives. Empirically, I will tend to the case of malaria eradication in mandatory British ruled Palestine, focusing on the Malaria Research Unit- a prominent scientific body operating during the early mandate period- and on the case study of malaria eradication in the Hefer Valley. While current work usually describe successful attempts to discipline subjects as contributing or bringing about state-formation, I show how not only successful but also failed attempts to impose discipline can do so, prompting institutional-bureaucratic development.

Author

• Omri Tubi, Northwestern University