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Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling

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Environmental Malthusianism and demography.

Emily Klancher Merchant¹

¹University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.

Social Studies of Science

|June 23, 2022

Summary

Environmental Malthusianism and demography have complex, often conflicting, histories. Understanding these interactions is crucial for addressing climate change and avoiding flawed population control narratives.

Area of Science:

History of Science
Environmental Studies
Demography

Background:

Anthropogenic climate change necessitates historical examination of population-environment theories.
Environmental Malthusianism posits population growth drives ecosystem degradation, advocating population reduction for environmental protection.
Existing historical accounts often overlook the antagonistic relationship between environmental Malthusianism and demography, creating a false sense of scientific consensus.

Purpose of the Study:

To detail the entwined histories of environmental Malthusianism and demography.
To reveal points of disagreement and collaboration between these scientific fields.
To challenge the illusion of scientific consensus and its implications for policy.

Main Methods:

Keywords:

Malthusianism demography environmentalism population social science

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Historical analysis of scientific literature and discourse.

Examination of methodological disagreements in population analysis.

Tracing the evolution of ideas on population's role in ecosystem degradation.

Main Results:

Identified significant historical disagreements between environmental Malthusianism and demography regarding population analysis and environmental impact.
Documented periods of strategic collaboration that benefited both scientific communities.
Revealed how the perceived consensus has supported population control advocacy.

Conclusions:

The historical relationship between environmental Malthusianism and demography is more complex and contentious than often portrayed.
The narrative of scientific consensus has been leveraged to promote population control measures.
Focusing on population control distracts from critical proximate causes of environmental devastation, such as industrial pollution and fossil fuel subsidies.