Description

Marius Turda traces the quest to shape an ideal Romanian. He shows how views on race shaped modern Romania. These views included eugenics: ideas about choosing who should have children. He links a sense of nationhood with social selection. He also links both to the growth of state power. He focuses on debates between the two world wars.

This history study shows how Romanian thinkers took up eugenics. It also shows how they sought to shut people out. Some fought for a sharp break with the modern world. They joined local customs with ideas from Europe. At first, they sought an ideal language and homeland. Then they sought an ideal human being. Turda links this goal to racism and genocide. He also studies biopolitics. This means using state power to shape human life through biology.

Slavery left Roma people facing claims that their race was inferior. The drive for a perfect nation strengthened these claims. It did not end them. The book links eugenic policies to forced exile. These policies helped send 25,000 Roma to Transnistria. Half of those sent there died.

Turda challenges accepted views of Romania’s past thought and culture. He shows how this past feeds hate speech today. He writes for readers drawn to Romanian history and nationalism. The book also serves those who study exclusion based on race.

This second edition has pictures and belongs to the HISTORIA series. Marius-Adrian Hazaparu translated the English texts.