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The Politics and Psychology of AIDS Denialism

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HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 Years On

Abstract

South Africa is in the midst of a catastrophic HIV/AIDS epidemic with over 12% of the national population infected with HIV. Although representing less than 1% of the world’s population, nearly 10% of people living with HIV/AIDS reside in South Africa. Probably the most perplexing aspect of South Africa’s battle with AIDS is former President Thabo Mbeki’s rejection of AIDS science in favour of the ‘questioning’ stance of a small group of ‘AIDS denialists’. The story of denialism in South Africa and its political influence is well documented (Cameron, 2005; Gevisser, 2007; Gumede, 2005; Heywood, 2004; Nattrass, 2007) but nevertheless remains an enigma: why did President Thabo Mbeki go down this path? Why did he and his Health Minister reject all expert scientific opinion on AIDS pathogenesis and treatment – even in the face of rising social anger, loss of political standing both domestically and abroad, and at the cost of thousands of unnecessary deaths? How the government not oppose Mbeki and remain silent for so long?

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, South Africa

    Nicoli Nattrass (Professor of Economics)

  2. AIDS and Society Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Nicoli Nattrass (Professor of Economics)

  3. University of South Carolina, Carolina, USA

    Seth C. Kalichman

Authors
  1. Nicoli Nattrass
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  2. Seth C. Kalichman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Revelstoke Road 12, London, SW18 5PD, United Kingdom

    Poul Rohleder

  2. Springer Science + Business Media, Spring St. 233, New York, 10013, New York, USA

    Leslie Swartz

  3. Center for HIV Intervention and, Prevention, University of Connecticut, Hillside Road 206, Storrs, 06269, Connecticut, USA

    Seth C. Kalichman

  4. Plain Park Bldg, 13th Fl 69-83, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

    Leickness Chisamu Simbayi

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Nattrass, N., Kalichman, S.C. (2009). The Politics and Psychology of AIDS Denialism. In: Rohleder, P., Swartz, L., Kalichman, S., Simbayi, L. (eds) HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 Years On. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0306-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0306-8_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0305-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0306-8

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