Latin Eugenics in Comparative Perspective (Hardcover)

Latin eugenics was a scientific, cultural and political programme designed to biologically empower modern European and American nations once commonly described as 'Latin', sharing genealogical, linguistic, religious, and cultural origins. With the emergence of eugenics in the late 19th century, this common cultural and scientific identity became a fundamental component of an internationally influential Latin version of eugenics. Latin Eugenics in Comparative Perspective offers a comparative, nuanced approach to eugenics as a scientific program as well as a cultural and political phenomenon. It examines the commonalities of eugenics in 'Latin' Europe and Latin America. The book also analyses the component ideas of Latin eugenics, such as Catholic eugenics, population and family policies, maternal and infant health, preventive medicine, social hygiene and public health. As a program to achieve the social and political goals of modern welfare systems, Latin eugenics strongly influenced the complex relationship of the state to the individual.Drawing on a wide range of primary and secondary sources in many languages, this book offers the first history of Latin eugenics in Europe and the Americas.