Convivial Populations: Ivan Illich and Public Health in the 21st Century

Abstract

Ivan Illich (1926–2002) was a historian, social critic, and professor at multiple universities. He came to intellectual fame through his criticisms of modern institutions, including health care, and his concern with social structures that he believed to impede human flourishing. However, Illich has not been thoroughly explored as a source of insight for public health professionals. Although he populates the medical and public health literature, discourse remains sparse about how Illich might contribute to key conversations in public health today. In this article, I explore Illich’s potential contributions to modern public health through one of his seminal works, Tools for Conviviality. I frame Illich as a valuable conversational partner for public health professionals at a crucial moment in the field’s history. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(7):723–728. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307675 )