Santiago Castro-Gómez
scastro@javeriana.edu.co
Pontifcia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
Abstract:
This paper addresses the problem of biopolitics in the 18th century in Spain and its colonies in America, having as a reference the change of Austria’s to Bourbon dynasty. It is argued that this change of dynasties involved not only a change in government, but also a change in governmentality. A set of medical, health and demographic steps were applied in order to enhance the quality of life among its population, while at the same time Spain was fighting to recover its geopolitical hegemony in the world-system. Hence, this paper explores the links between biopolitics and geopolitics.
Palabras clave: biopolitics, Bourbon reforms, colonial discourse, geopolitics.
