Biopolitics and speculative objects in Chilean health projects

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology of Science
• Political Science

Background:

• Biopolitics is frequently applied to analyze public health initiatives.
• Existing analyses often overlook the technoscientific operations involved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze Chile's national Explicit Health Guarantees project using a biopolitical framework.
• To critically examine how public health projects establish truths and obligations.
• To introduce the concept of 'speculative objects' in biopolitical analysis.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of the Explicit Health Guarantees project in Chile.
• Conceptual development of 'speculative objects' based on project analysis.
• Critique of standard biopolitical theory.

Main Results:

• The Explicit Health Guarantees project creates 'speculative objects' by integrating diverse entities.
• These objects establish regimes of obligation framed as scientific truths for various groups.
• Technoscientific operations are central to establishing these truths and obligations.

Conclusions:

• The concept of 'speculative objects' offers a novel perspective on biopolitics.
• Biopolitical analysis must account for uncertainty and speculation in public health.
• Further research is needed on the relationship between biopolitics, uncertainty, and speculation.