Sociology: Homework Q: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Neo-Malthusian theory of population in explaining population issues confronting

Caribbean societies.

A: The Malthusian theory was developed by British economist Thomas Malthus. The Malthusian theory of population brought about the awareness of the negative aspects of over-population. The problems outlined in his theory dealt with the availability of a food supply to sustain the growing population. He foresaw that as the population grew, food would become scarcer as the earths population would eventually exceed its carrying capacity. He predicted that there would be widespread issues plaguing humanity such as death, diseases and famine. Malthus thought that these factors would eventually force countries to adapt measures of population control. In a nutshell, Malthus thought that the power of the land to provide for its population would not be enough since population increases geometrically, while the earths resources multiplied arithmetically. This theory was proposed during the beginning of the industrial revolution when Britains population was rapidly expanding. The Neo-Malthusian theory, however, is founded on the Malthusian theory. The major difference between the Malthusian theory and the Neo-Malthusian theory is that the Malthusian theory states that factors such as war and famine are key to population control while the NeoMalthusians find that idea too simplistic and instead promote ideals such as Planned Parenthood and eugenics. The Eugenicist movement was founded in the early twentieth century. In theory, its aim was to achieve social and biological evolution through selective breeding. However, in practice, the criterion for population control was race. The Europeans viewed the Blacks and differently colored (Questionable Term) as inferior to them and unfit for breeding. If applied to the Caribbean, the Eugenicist Movement could be detrimental to its inhabitants, who are dominantly black. The Caribbean is a plural society (As proclaimed by M.G. Smith) and as such comprises of many different races such as Chinese and East-Indians. Hence, the blacks would not only be at risk but most of the other inhabitants also. If the Caribbean population were to be decimated, the people alone would not be lost but also their different cultures and institutions such as marriage, family, religion, music, art forms and many others. Planned Parenthood is another measure of population control which can be used to help curb population growth. This form of population control relies on the implementation of policies and birth control measures to limit the amount of children a family may produce. Planned Parenthood assumes that population size can in fact be managed. This method of population control may not be successful in large, developing countries, such as India, for example, since there is widespread unemployment, poverty and malnutrition. The inhabitants of these countries may not have proper access to contraceptives or family planning and may see such measures as trivial.

Nicholas-Wezley-Bahadoorsingh

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Sociology: Homework In the Caribbean, this form of population control may be inevitable since population size is becoming large and leading to issues such as unemployment, poverty and malnutrition. In this case the effects would be positive, since it would help to limit the population and, thus, have a greater availability of resources to sustain their population. Although Planned Parenthood may have many positive effects, there are also many negative effects. For example, specific races of people may be targeted for the administering of contraceptives and family planning, reducing their population. Also, women run the risk of being used as guinea pigs in order to experiment with new forms of birth control, which may have adverse effects on their physical, mental or sexual health. In closing, the Neo-Malthusian theory seeks to attack the issue of population control via policies and family planning measures as opposed to the Malthusian theory which believes that the population will reach a natural cap. The Neo-Malthusian theory, when applied to the Caribbean, can either positively help tackle the issue of population growth or it may negatively impact it if used by the wrong hands.

Nicholas-Wezley-Bahadoorsingh

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