WorldAugust 27, 2026

biopolitics

BY-oh-PAH-li-tiks

Definition

The practice of modern states and institutions using power to manage, regulate, and control human life, health, and biological populations.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'bios' (life) and 'politika' (affairs of the city). The term was popularized by French philosopher Michel Foucault in the 1970s to describe how governing bodies exert control over the physical lives and bodies of a population.

In the news

In the article, the author uses the term to describe how the state and religious authorities in Iran use medicine and law to monitor and categorize gender identities, effectively turning biology into a tool of political governance.

Rethinking Sex: Intersex and Transgender Politics in Shia Islam

Read the full article ↗

E-International Relations

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