At the turn of the 19th century, the Earth was home to around one billion people. Today, it is home to more than eight billion. Time and again, this growth has triggered warnings that can ultimately be traced back to the theories of economist Thomas Malthus: too many people lead to hunger, as well as ecological and social crises.
In her new book, The Population Argument, Dana Schmalz illustrates how the role of population growth is overstated and misunderstood: always locating excess growth elsewhere, in the Global South or marginalized communities. Governments use this argument to restrict reproductive rights, while development policy remains guided by racist ideas about reproduction and population growth. More recently, anti-feminist groups have cited falling birth rates to bolster conspiracy theories and gain traction among a broader audience.
Together with the author and two discussants, we will examine population discourse with a focus on the UN and its relationship to international law. We will explore how ideas about population have shaped development policy, efforts to combat poverty, and migration governance, leading us to where we are today.
Speakers:
Dana Schmalz, Dr. iur., LL.M., Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Alessio Cangiano, Senior Adviser, Demographic Megatrends, Acting Chief, Population and Development Branch, Program Division, UNFPA New York
Eric Essono Tsimi, Asst. Professor, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, Baruch College, The City University of New York
Moderator: Stefan Liebich, Executive Director Rosa Luxemburg Foundation New York Office
📅 Date: Friday, March 28
🕕 Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location: RLS-NYC office, 275 Madison Ave, suite 2114, New York City
