Abstract:

Eugenics, which can be defined as the science of eugenics, includes policies aimed at creating perfect and superior human societies. Thus, eugenics is a policy in which individuals and society are reformed by the state. Eugenics, which began to spread in the twentieth century, has been on the rise in nation-states, especially before the World War II. Eugenic policies, which began to spread in the twentieth century, are usually encountered in the fields of health, population, physical education and sports. Although eugenic practices were observed in Turkey during the early Republican Turkey, before the World War II, eugenic tendencies were encountered in the late Ottoman period. The study includes the effects of physical education and eugenics trends that started in the late Ottoman period on physical education and sports issues in early Republican Turkey. In this context, the Physical Education Law No. 3530, which is the clearest evidence of official eugenic policies, has been examined. This law is also considered the basis of the organization of sports in modern Turkey. The aim of the study is to reveal the course of development of eugenics thought in the fields of physical education and sports from the late Ottoman period to the early Republican Turkey and the eugenic dimensions of the Physical Education Law. Thus, it is aimed to make it more understandable for students to read eugenic sports policies in early Republican Turkey. The method of the study is based on a literature review on studies of body policies and eugenics issues covering the specified period and the document review method was used. Books, articles, dissertations, etc. on the policies and legal regulations related to the family, population, sports, health and body related to the late Ottoman and early Republican periods such documents were used as data sources. In addition, the records of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which reveal the spirit of the Physical Education Code, have been used in particular.

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