Politics of AIDS Denialism

Pieter Fourie is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie University, Australia. Melissa Meyer is Project Coordinator for HIV/AIDS and the Media Project, South Africa.

'This fascinating book applies a denial typology in an attempt to make sense of the (in)action of successive South African governments on HIV and AIDS. The book problematises the long-wave nature of the epidemic and the insights presented here are also useful for understanding other instances of political denial, particularly in this age of climate change.' Maj-Lis Follér, University of Gothenburg, Sweden 'Although AIDS denialism in South Africa was uniquely devastating, it was driven by political mechanisms of a more general nature. Through this novel application of theory to a familiar South African narrative, the authors provide a set of nuanced indicators that will warn against recurring denialism on AIDS or other public health challenges, in South Africa and elsewhere.' Per Strand, University of Cape Town, and AIDS Accountability International, South Africa

• Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The South African AIDS Epidemic; Chapter 3 Developing a Theory of Government AIDS Denial; Part I A History of the Official Response; Chapter 4 Introduction; Chapter 5 The Mandela Government’s Response to AIDS; Chapter 6 The Two Mbeki Governments’ Responses to AIDS; Part II Making Sense of Official AIDS Denial; Chapter 7 Classic Official Denial; Chapter 8 Introduction; Chapter 9 The Politics of Denial; Chapter 10 Conclusion;