social darwinism and welfarism

[Jim heartfield]

In message <199908030347.XAA08990 at fn3.freenet.tlh.fl.us>, Michael Hoover
<hoov at freenet.tlh.fl.us> writes
>> the webbs were really keen on eugenics as well: the planning of
>> biological reproduction.
>> Angela
>
>their language was also permeated with social darwinism (Beatrice Webb 
>knew Herbert Spencer personally and admired him)...they and their 
>acolytes favored elite professional control and 'benevolent' paternal 
>state (gov't *for* the people)...they contrasted 'true' socialists who 
>were bureaucratic experts trained in social sciences to working class 
>and trade unionists who were ignorant and stupid (which probably 
>explains why they had limited interest in extending suffrage or women's 
>rights)...   Michael Hoover

Is there not in fact a necessary link between welfarist socialism (of
the kind that the Webbs proposed) and eugenics. Because they distrusted
the free market solution, but looked upon the state to guarantee a
healthy society, it was understandable that they would assume a right to
determine heredity.

Sweden's Eugenic laws allowed for the sterilisation of 'imbeciles' up to
the 1970s. Generally this fact is acknowledged as if it were some kind
of exception to the normally civilised Swedish welfare state. I would
argue that it was not exceptional, but normal to a society where the
state had assumed responsibility for family welfare. 
-- 
Jim heartfield