The disease and suffering of disadvantaged people in all countries are a result of the way we organise our societies. In this essay, Marmot argues that failing to meet the fundamental human needs of autonomy, empowerment, and freedom is as important a cause of ill health as economic deprivation. Promoting the active involvement of individuals and communities in decisions that affect their lives would empower them and reduce ill health. He refers to the work of various scholars to support his argument. This summary includes a mention of some of these studies.