Experts and political power during the cholera epidemic of 1884-85

Abstract

The article explores the relationship between experts and political power during the cholera epidemic of 1884–1885, focusing on the relationship between central and peripheral authorities, as well as the conflicts arising from competing scientific theories about the origin of the disease. In a context of strong fragmentation, the government, lacking public health officials, was forced to engage with local technical experts and medical elites, who did not always agree with the public health policies promoted by the central authorities. The role of experts was not predetermined by the regulatory framework, but instead took shape in different ways depending on their legitimacy, degree of institutionalization, and available networks.