1. Population & Migration
Population density per square kilometer

2. Today
Population
Population movement: migration

3. Population

4. Recall from the last class: Some numbers AD 0 – AD 2011
Year
Population (est.)
1000
1250
1500
1750
1800
300,000,000
310,000,000
400,000,000
500,000,000
790,000,000
980,000,000
Year
Population (est.)
1850
1900
1950
2000
2011
1,260,000,000
1,650,000,000
2,520,000,000
6,000,000,000
7,000,000,000

5. Thomas Malthus & the “principle of population”
A persistent & controversial theory of population
“(…) population, when left unchecked, increased in a geometrical ratio, and subsistence for man in an arithmetical ratio”
Malthus proven wrong (so far)
industrialization of agriculture (1600s—)
“Green Revolution” (1960s—)
other technologies
Thomas Robert Malthus

6. Some expressions Demography: the study of population
For the fertility rate rankings of all countries click here.
Source: World Health Organization,
Demography: the study of population
Birth rate: births per 1000 persons
Mortality rate: deaths per 1000 persons
Fertility rate: # of children per woman (replacement rate = 2.1; current world average = 2.5)
Demographic transition: going from high birth & mortality rates to low birth & mortality rates

7. The population “explosion”
2011
7 billion

8. How to address the issue: Population policy
Population data by country and by year
from the U.S. Census Bureau
Is there even a problem?
Malthus, 21st century style: neo-Malthusianism
What motives behind this discussion?
geopolitics and economics: population as a weapon & a resource
culture & ethnicity
women’s bodies & women’s rights

9. How to address the issue: The “biotech revolution”
A purported solution to food scarcity
More crops & more resistant crops
The safety factor
The intellectual property factor

10. How to address the issue: Consumption, again
Too many people or too much consumption?
The “ecological footprint”
Resources & pollution
North American & European lifestyle for 7000,000,000 people ?
Technology & recycling?

11. How to address the issue: Women’s reproductive rights
A sensitive topic
sexuality
male-female relations
a kind of interference
A fundamental social change
The most effective solution
Broaching reproduction from a health point of view, the case of Afghanistan. See also this article from the New York Times.

12. Population movement: migration

13. Migration Migration: movement of population * Other statuses
emigration
immigration
Other statuses
landed immigrants, Green Card holders (US)
“guest workers”
non-documented, undocumented, illegal immigrants, illegal aliens
nomadic peoples
* Excluding tourists, nomads, and business travelers.

14. Voluntary migration Economic reasons Poverty
… but not life- threatening
“Economic refugees”
The largest migration in history…
Political reasons
No direct threat
… but generally unfavourable context
Opportunities for political participation
Immigration policy as diplomacy

15. Involuntary migration
Asylum-seekers*
Refugees*
War situations
Threat to life
Inhuman treatment
A permanent move
A common debate: asylum seeker vs. “economic refugees”
War situations
Natural catastrophes
Threats to life
Inhuman conditions
A temporary move
Do not confuse “refugees” & “displaced persons”
* These are legal terms in international law

16. Citizenship: The “right to have rights”
Two ways to be born a citizen
Acquiring citizenship: naturalization
Citizenship is a legal status, not an identity
Soil
Blood
Naturalization

17. The decision to admit (or not) immigrants
National interest
Not everyone (peoples & governments) wants immigrants
Choosing immigrants
educated migrants
immigrant investors
family reunification
guest workers / temporary foreign workers
boosting population numbers
Sept. 22, 2010
CBC’s The Current
segment about immigration in Canada

18. Immigration controversies
Response to levels of immigration
The transformation of society
“ghettoization”, integration & assimilation
national culture & values
Cultural & religious accommodations
On Sunday, March 14, 2010, the CBC radio show Cross-Country Checkup asked the question: “As Canadian multiculturalism nears 40 years of age, can Canada avoid the ethnic tensions plaguing other countries?” (streaming)

19. A changing national identity
Recall: characteristics of the nation-state
National culture & national identity
National identities are social constructs
homogeneity is a myth
national identity need to be reiterated
The identity-citizenship disconnect

20. Conclusion Significant population increases
And considerable population movements
Posing policy challenges to governments
And ethical dilemmas for everyone
History not necessarily a good guide