Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how political capital can be enhanced through social networks and expertise to navigate the direction of power flows. It argues that political capital as a dimension of power exertion is visible through collective actions to influence health systems and service delivery.

Paper long abstract:

Like any social institutions, health systems place actors and people at the core, and are shaped by power dynamics that underlie societal interactions. Recognising how individuals, groups, organisations and networks derive their power is critical to unpack how and why power flows in particular directions as well as how it might be used to promote equity-oriented health systems. Different forms or expressions of power interact one another to shape political priorities and policy trajectories. Drawing from a 10-months place-based research in Bali Province, this paper argues the emergence of epistemic communities, an interlinked and organised networks of local NGOs and academia, as a new key actor in the practice of health system strengthening. This section raises the concern that these partnerships in one hand improve local research capacity and program implementation, but on the other hand is also an effective measure for power acquisition to deploy control over local research agenda, health systems programming and interventions. This paper examines how political capital can be enhanced through social networks, expertise and economic resources to navigate the direction of power flows. It argues that political capital as a dimension of power exertion is visible through collective actions to influence health systems and service delivery.