Eugenics in Turkiye from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic: Discussions and practices (1908-1946)

This study evaluates the discussions surrounding the concept of eugenics as a population improvement practice during the Late Ottoman and Early Republican periods (1908-1946) and the role of eugenics in Turkey's population, public health, anthropology studies, and physical education policies during this time. The objective of this study is to clarify the debates and implementations of eugenics in Turkey from the Second Constitutional Era to the end of World War II. Additionally, it aims to examine whether a negative eugenics practice, similar to that observed in many other countries of the period, existed in Turkey. The introduction provides an overview of the historical development of the concept of eugenics and discusses positive and negative eugenics practices in the UK, the USA, and Germany between the 19th and 20th centuries. This section aims to talk about the concept of eugenics and related terms and to examine the practices of eugenics in countries where it was largely supported, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. The first part of the study addresses the historical trajectory of eugenic thought in Turkey. It deals with when the concept of eugenics emerged in Turkey and how intellectuals evaluated its various dimensions. The second section includes eugenics debates and practices within the context of population policy in Turkey, examining the impact of eugenics on the country's population policies. The third section assesses the influence of eugenic policies on Turkey's public health initiatives, specifically their effects on combating child mortality, social diseases, and the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. The fourth section investigates the reconfiguration of biological racism and anthropology through eugenic discourses, comparing the practices in Turkey with those in Nazi Germany and the USA. The final section talks about eugenic practices in physical education and sports as a means of fostering robust and morally sound generations. Keywords: Eugenics, Population, Sterilization, Public Health, Malaria, Syphilis, Tuberculosis, Antropology, Racism, Physical Education, Sport, Gymnastics