Capitalismo y medicinaLos usos políticos de la salud

Laburpena

The article studies the function that medicine performed on biopolitics development in modern society. In fact, since XVIII century, medicine has been a basic tool in management of population as a decisive resort for incorporation of human bodies in a productive order of capitalism. Indeed, according to Foucault�s analysis, it can identify a series of procedures through medicine has been increasing its political power in our societies. In this context, one might mention the invention of childhood concept, the use of family idea, the promotion of hygiene, the creation of modern hospital, the development of the concept not only of public healthy but also of healthiness in urban spaces, the practice of medical campaigns directed to working class, etcetera. The result of all these processes has been a total medicalization of society and the complete identification of the problem of health with the interests of economy. So, as well during XX century as at present days, we could comprobe when the individual body and his precariousness have been presented as plunged into rationality of marked and crossed by the value of consumerism. However, it is not only simple, specific and cultural phenomena, but a political dispositif which produces a serial of profitabilities for neoliberal model. In such a sense, nowadays, both speeches and practices relating to health are evident as strategies of domination once again.