Towards the future of health promotion.

Abstract This book chapter aims to: (i) explore the role of the epistemic and academic community of health promoters; (ii) suggest that there are new and emerging public health problems to take into account; (iii) reinforce the need to defend the radical intent of the Ottawa Charter and to develop further anti-oppressive practice; (iv) describe how the health promotion discourse is changing, and moving into new realms of wellbeing; (v) reinforce the importance of hearing lay voices and understanding 'healthworlds'; and (vi) present some ideas for moving forward the value base of health promotion. Fields of endeavour apart from health promotion also struggle with the goals of empowerment, equality, justice, and are also contemplating how to deal with challenges of the 21st century, such as complexity, globalization and social capital. These fields might include education, criminal justice, social work, sport, development, and so provide rich and relevant avenues for further reading.