The league of nations and the Rockefeller foundation: International activism in public health

The League of Nations Health Organization (LNHO) played a fundamental role in stabilisation policies during the interwar period. Public health became essential in this historical context due to the immediate consequences of the war, the post-war economic crisis and the Great Depression. The LNHO was the cornerstone of international action in several health fields:epidemics, the fightagainst malnutrition and infectious diseases, infant mortality, drug abuse, biological and dietary standard-setting, compilation of epidemiological records, and public health policies and professionalisation. In the process of shaping international health expertise, the LNHO’s collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation’s International Health Board/Division was extremely important, both in determining goals and programmes, and in terms of financialsupport. Thischapter analyses the areas and extent of collaboration between the two institutions.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development