Sweden’s Coronavirus Fight Strategy And Bitter Memories Of Past Eugenic Practices

Teoman Tulun ()

No zb2jn, OSF Preprints from Center for Open Science

Abstract: Herd immunity is one of the methods utilized by countries to combat the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Sweden is the only country in Europe that pursues the practice of "herd immunity," while the new coronavirus has spread throughout the country. As of April 27, 2020, the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Research Center reports that there have been 18,640 coronavirus cases in Sweden, resulting in 2,194 deaths. The 'herd' will survive, but in order for this to occur, other 'weaker' members of society must be sacrificed, according to some researchers. The goal of eugenics, in its simplest form, is to increase the genetic quality of a human population. People and organizations deemed inferior can be rejected or sacrificed for those deemed superior and able to live so that this improvement might occur. As we explained in our AVM analysis titled "Century-Old 'White Supremacism' and the Far-Rise Right's in Sweden: A Credible Challenge to Progressive Values and Policies" published two years ago, the Scandinavian eugenics movement reached its zenith prior to the First World War and became operational during the 1930s and 1940s. Between 1934 and 1976, Sweden was the only country with a national eugenics society and employed sterilization regulations. The initial Swedish sterilisation statute went into effect in 1935 and was expanded in 1941. A Swedish government commission was established in 1997 to investigate sterilization operations from 1935 to 1975. According to international press accounts, Sweden's present plan to combat the spread of the coronavirus is supported by the people at large. Time will tell if this strategy, which is pursued at the expense of vulnerable individuals (particularly the elderly), is worthwhile. Even if this technique currently supports Sweden's interests, it will undoubtedly be subject to severe ethical objections in the future, similar to Sweden's past eugenics activities.

Date: 2020-05-03
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DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/zb2jn

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