hygienemilitarism

Hygienemilitarism is a theory in international relations that emerged in the late 19th century, particularly in Germany and Prussia. It posits that a country's military power must be closely tied to its economic and social strengths, and that domestic hygiene and public health are essential components of a nation's military and economic capabilities.

Proponents of hygienemilitarism believed that a strong and healthy population was crucial for a country's military power, and that good public health was essential for economic growth and industrial development. They argued that a nation's military would be unable to fight effectively if its population was plagued by diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and other contagious illnesses.

The theory was also closely tied to the idea of social Darwinism, which held that a nation's strong and healthy individuals would be better able to defend their country and expand its territory. In this context, hygienemilitarism was seen as a way to promote national strength and drive through eugenic policies and quarantine regulations.

Hygienemilitarism played a significant role in shaping public policies in countries such as Germany during the pre-World War I era. It influenced the development of sanitation systems and public health programs, as well as policies for sterilization and population control. Critics of hygienemilitarism argue that it relied on pseudoscientific assumptions about the relationship between disease, public health, and national power.

Despite its significance, hygienemilitarism fell from favor after World War I, when its association with nationalist and militarist ideologies became increasingly evident. The theory was ultimately discredited due to the devastating consequences of its pseudo-scientific underpinnings, and it is no longer widely accepted in modern scholarship.