Eugenics and medicalization of crime at the early 20 th century in Uruguay

Abstract

The article analyzes the relationship between eugenics and medicalization of crime in Uruguay between the end of the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century. The perspective adopted starts from the consideration of the conversion of crime and other socially problematic behaviors in a psychiatric matter, as part of broader processes of biopolitical management of social life in urban contexts. In that sense, some peculiarities of the Uruguayan case are examined concerning the relationship between eugenics and medicalization of crime, standing out the inexpressive allusion to the racial factor and the extreme importance attributed to the “social addictions” and, in particular, to the alcohol consumption as a reproductive and criminogenic element susceptible to put at risk the composition and quality of the population.