Neo Malthusian Dilemma

Question: What is the Neo-Malthusian Dilemma? How Might We Best Approach Solving the Perceived Neo-Malthus. Answer: Introduction The Neo-Malthusians perspectives arose from the ideas of Malthus. Malthus was a renowned scholar and cleric who was very influential in the demography as well as in the political economy domain. He is, however, popularly known for his theorizing on population control through the use of artificial birth control methods. The neo-Malthusian theorists further advanced Malthusian's idea and they maintain that human population growth is exponential and can eventually outpace the rate at which resources such as food are produced if it is not adequately monitored (Cullather, 2014). Nonetheless, the Neo- Malthusian ideas differ from the traditional Malthusian theory about the proposed birth control methods. As a result, there is the emergence of what has been described as the Neo- Malthusian dilemma. The primary aim of this paper, therefore, is to discuss and analyze the concept of the Neo-Malthusian dilemma as well as analyzing the best approaches by which the Neo-Malthusian dilemma can be s olved. The Neo-Malthusian dilemma is manifested in the rapidly growing population versus the low level of productivity (Cullather, 2014). Such asymmetrical comparison results to poverty which in turn threatens the sustainable development and continued low level of the quality of life (Koubi, V., Spilker, Bhmelt Bernauer, 2014). According to the neo-Malthusian model, the earth has the ability to support sustainable agricultural needs for a limited population and should overpopulation occur there will be inevitable economic and social outcomes. Overpopulation, as perceived by the Neo-Malthusian, will not only affect the agricultural productivity but will also lead to depletion of the world's resources, poverty as well as starvation. In general, therefore, the Neo-Malthusian dilemma refers to two significant aspects. These are population growth and low level of resources productivity which results to other adverse results (Tadjoeddin, Chowdhury, Murshed, 2012). According to Kerr (2014), huma n population growth has inevitably led to ecological damage and overexploitation of resources thus leading to heightened levels of poverty. Similarly, the scale of human dependency on the resources is unsustainable because people have almost exploited all of the world's resources. The high population and its rate growth are enhanced by three main factors namely: mortality, fertility and international migration (Bintliff, 2013). For population growth to remain higher, it means that there is high fertility rate, low mortality rate and increased international immigration or even internal migration. In most countries of the world internal migration takes place when people tend to migrate from rural to urban areas. Rural-urban migration thus results in the spatial distribution of the population (Bintliff, 2013). The consequence of rural-urban migration is that there is the concentration of population in limited areas thus resulting to unsustainable development. For instance, when a vast population is concentrated in an urban center it means that there is high competition for job opportunities and resources such as housing, water, food and health care. There is also ensuing high rate of crime. This form of competition and threatened sustainable development leads to poverty and low level of life quality particularly for those who cannot afford some of these services and facilities. To best deal with the Neo-Malthusian dilemma Rust (2010) argues that it is important to ensure reduced growth in population. Reduced or having the population growth under control fundamentally solves the problem of overpopulation, overconsumption, and exhaustion of resources. As a result, there will be sustainable development, improved quality of life and poverty alleviation. For this reason, it is essential to identify the most appropriate methods of controlling the rate of population growth. The Neo-Malthusians perceive population control as the programs and policies and programs that are intentionally aimed at decreasing population growth (Myrdal, 2013). Population growth links the Neo-Malthusian perspective and development plans in that the rising population is seen by the Neo-Malthusian as an impediment to a national economic growth (Komu, Edward Ethelberg, 2015). There are three strategies which have been perceived as the most essential in controlling population growth. These are; raising mortality rate, lowering of fertility and promoting migration (Bintliff, 2013). It is, however, acceptable that raising of mortality rate may be unacceptable due to cultural, ethical, legal and spiritual reasons. In other words, the deliberate rising of mortality rate is acting against humanity. In addition, promotion of migration as a method of controlling population growth is less practical since again it is unethical or illegal to forcefully evict people from one area and force them to establish a settlement in another place against their wish (Rust, 2010). Therefore, following the infeasibility of the two methods, the only feasible method of population growth control is lowering of fertility. The strategy has been widely adopted as the goal for population control policies and interventions. Population control methods are classified as either coercive or passive (Komu, Edward Ethelberg, 2015). While coercive methods entail the use of forced population control mechanisms such as the China's one-child policy, passive mechanism, on the other hand, allows couples to choose the number of children they wish to have. The passive mechanism of population growth refers to such strategies as the use of birth control methods such as contraceptives, abstinence, celibacy, vasectomy and voluntary abortions (Komu, Edward Ethelberg, 2015).Although the coercive mechanisms of population growth are forceful in nature and the fact that the passive methods may contradict some of the cultural and societal values, the methods remain the most fundamental in population control. In conclusion, it is evident that increased population growth has resulted in undesirable outcomes that directly affect the human population in turn. As Kerr (2014) postulates majority of the problems that the earth is experiencing in the modern day emanate from the increased population. He also adds that the solution to these problems intrinsically lies in controlling the population growth. The world has already got more population than its carrying capacity or more than it can support. Consequently, reduction in fertility is a necessary mechanism that will see the world evade the economic and ecological collapse because there will be reduced population and sustainable development. Although controversies are surrounding the various methods of population control more so the use of coercive methods it remains justifiable to monitor the population for the benefit of the entire society. That way, the world will be able to overcome the Neo-Malthusian dilemma. References Bintliff, J. (2013). Regional survey, demography, and the rise of complex societies in the ancient Aegean: Core-periphery, neo-Malthusian, and other interpretive models. Journal of Field Archaeology. Cullather, N. (2014). Stretching the Surface of the Earth: The Foundations, Neo-Malthusianism and the Modernising Agenda. Global Society, 28(1), 104-112. Kerr, D. (2014). Wasted World: How Our Consumption Challenges the Planet. Canadian Studiesin Population, 41(3-4), 135-136. Komu, M. 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