The return of eugenics
This talk runs from 13.30 – 14.30
Eugenics is a widely discredited ideology of the past. However, the scientifically inaccurate belief that human populations can be “improved” through social policies, such as selective reproduction, has persisted in various forms.
In the early 20th century, eugenic policies gained popularity and were widely promoted as scientifically valid. However, the atrocities of the Nazi regime exposed the catastrophic consequences of dividing people into “superior” and “inferior” groups. Following the Second World War, the ideology lost mainstream support but continued to circulate on the margins.
Rebecca Sear (Brunel University of London) will explore how eugenic beliefs have regained visibility and influence in the 21st century, and why they continue to appeal to parts of the far right today. She will highlight the role of academic figures, such as psychologist Richard Lynn, who has openly sought to rehabilitate eugenics and has helped shape modern extremist narratives.
Please note that this event will involve discussions of eugenics, scientific racism, discrimination, and harmful ideologies about reproduction.
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