ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the relation between public health and citizenship by drawing from political philosophy, sociology and science and technology studies. It argues for a pragmatic philosophical perspective that permits a more balanced approach to the relation between science and democracy, public health and citizenship. It is more appropriate to formulate the approach as quasi-neo-republicanism, in the expert-driven public health, little attention is paid to the (re)production of the political and social character of practices of citizenship. From a pragmatic perspective, public health is considered as a practice of democratic citizenship, by taking citizen perspectives seriously and by actively organizing dialogue and deliberation, it continuously frames, shapes and enables citizen voice, autonomy and responsibility. Considering the current state of public health and considering the tension between expertocracy and democracy developed in the twentieth century, public health is also considered in need of public learning processes and new practices of citizenship.
