On Subsidiarity and Community

Abstract Subsidiarity, the second practical principle of agapic love, advocates for the inclusion of local communities in decision-making processes within GHG. Using the debate surrounding the reform of the WHO as a case study, Chapter 5 contrasts the conventional centralization approach, which consolidates authority for enhanced operational capacity, with a robust decentralized model grounded in subsidiarity. This alternative approach emphasizes respecting the agency of aid recipients and fostering community participation in healthcare decisions. The chapter argues that agapic love supports a robust decentralization as a means to decolonize global health institutions, promoting solidarity and mutual empowerment among stakeholders. It proposes that effective leadership in GHG involves humility in recognizing limitations. It advocates that the WHO’s primary role should be facilitating communication pertaining to public health emergencies of international concern among diverse global health stakeholders.