Population Policy: Authoritarianism Versus Cooperation

Abstract

Policy decisions taken out of fear result in folly. The author introduces the paper with a plea for critical reflection about the population problem. Policy-makers in various parts of the world have tried to take direct control of birth control decisions within families by using authoritarian methods. China's one child norm and India's sterilization drives during the 1975 emergency are illustrations of the world's two largest nation-states using authoritarian methods. The basic dichotomy of 'solving' a population 'problem' is to use either an authoritarian or a co-operative approach. The author re-examines the 200-year-old debate between Thomas Malthus and the Marquis de Condorcet to theoretically illustrate these two approaches to problem solving. The pressures of a growing population on a finite quantum of natural resources logically leads to decreased food supply, environmental deterioration and over-crowding, particularly in metropolitan cities. The obvious choice of social development options are better female education, greater participation of women in productive employment; and greater autonomy and empowerment of women.