These are materialist approaches that emphasize the social and political economic nature of health, disease and healing, and which embrace both micro and macro perspectives.
Rudolf Virchow, a German physician writing during the 1800s, was a key founder of social medicine.
He argued that the difficult circumstances and deprivations of the working class increase susceptibility to disease as well as to higher mortality rates.
Virchow also recognized the political and material circumstances that inhibited disease prevention efforts and viewed advocacy as an essential part of medical research.
Papers that have been submitted to a journal or edited volume, but that have not yet benefited from review, may be included in this category.