The Macrosecuritization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia

This article has two objectives. Drawing on the framework provided
by macrosecuritization, this article first explores global responses to
AMR. Secondly, in shifting the analytical lens to Asia, the article then
evaluates how successful this process has been in a regional context.
Considering the two objectives, two inter-related arguments are
proposed. First, even though AMR can be considered a
quintessential and successful macrosecuritization case at the
global level, within Asia the operationalisation of AMR strategies is
limited by power and resource politics within the states. Second,
the anthropocentric nature of health security is limited when it
comes to address the threat posed by AMR. Overcoming this
limitation requires a One Health approach. However, the
successful articulation of this approach has proven challenging in
Asia where middle-level actors pull away from the process in
pursuit of other agendas. As a result, while macrosecuritization
provides a useful tool for understanding how AMR and similar
health threats are addressed, it is necessary to understand the
local realities within which the process is embedded.