생체권력(Bio-Power)과 1981년 인플루엔자

Bio-Power and Control of the 1918 Influenza

The rapid spread and mortality of the 1918 Influenza in the fall of 1918 forced the United States Public Health Service[USPHS] to take more specific and active strategies to prevent it from spreading further. In this process, the spread and micronization of the control power was remarkable. The ultimate aim of the control power to suppress the 1918 Influenza was to intervene in the conditions of occurrence and spread of the infectious disease. Also, as it expanded the influence to total population, the control power had similar characters with the Bio-power. The control power operated in the private sphere not only the public sphere just as institution or system. And it accompanied more powerful binding force than any other period. As a result, the control power had contradicted private freedom, right and the Constitution and it caused conflicts and troubles during the 1918 Influenza. The conflicts and troubles were visible in two aspects. First, the forceful mask wearing policy caused controversy with self-determination elucidated in the Constitution. Especially, San Francisco took the most powerful force to wear the mask. So during the 1918 Influenza, between the forceful mask wearing and the private right existed considerable gap in San Francisco. In addition, to control the public meeting and close the public place, the control power of the 1918 Influenza brought about arguments. Also, it prohibited Liberty Bonds that wished the victory of the First World War and supported war expense. So, the control power could not avoid lots of blames that it was against the national profit and public right. During the 1918 Influenza, the control power in American society implemented vaccine and mortality statistics to control the infectious disease. Sine the 18th century, the modern Bio-power had been visible as experiencing the 1918 Influenza, and it was necessary of national intervention or interference. As Michel Foucault mentioned, the infectious disease could show the nature of the Bio-power to control and regulate the total population. The 1918 Influenza was the most important opportunity to operate the Bio-power in American society.