An Unhealthy Relationship: How and Why the World Health Organization is Used to Undermine Israel's Sovereign Equality

Abstract

This thesis examines the notion of ‘sovereign equality’ and how it can be undermined through intergovernmental organisations. The organisation examined is the World Health Organization (WHO), with Israel as a case study. Through these sources and the lens of game theory and neoliberal international relations theory, the thesis found that the WHO was used as an instrument to further the interests of countries hostile to Israel. Using WHO minutes, transcripts and resolutions as primary evidence, the thesis analyses how a ‘coalition of criticism’ – countries hostile to Israel - used the democratic governance structure of the WHO to undermine Israel’s sovereign equality.