What is meant by Foucault's claim that in the modern period populations came to be seen as a resource?

Question

What is meant by Foucault's claim that in the modern period populations came to be seen as a resource?

Answer 1

kanibalism...homo homoni ;upus...

Answer 2

Perhaps as a resource for something such as total war.

Hard to say, as Foucault, being a relativist and nihilist, makes little contact with the real world and what us naturally known.

I had the displeasure of watching Foucault and Chomsky debate on innate-ism once. Every time Foucault spoke you felt as if you were bring swaddled in cotton.

Answer 3

Foucault was more a philosopher than a scientist or serious cultural anthropologist in my opinion, but it is a fact that the power brokers of the World see their "human resources" as a means of brokering power & wealth for the elite.  Communist nations often accused the Western Nations of stealing their most valuable resources (humans) by offering them money & more freedom.  One need only look at India & China (sources of cheaper labor) to see the truth of some of Foucault's claims.