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 earth’s
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 earth’s resources multiplied arithmetically. This theory was proposed during the beginning of
the industrial revolution when Britain’s 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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