Biopolitics: lessons from history

Biopolitics is an emerging subdiscipline within the field of political science. The essay examines historical antecendents and delineates three categories of such works: 1) metaphor, 2) evolutionary/genetic influences on behavior, and 3) public policy implications. A number of problems with these works are noted. Finally, suggestions for the current interest in biopolitics are outlines, based upon the historical analysis.