Geodemography

The last hundred years have witnessed the ongoing decline of Europe’s population and the explosion of Africa’s, major changes in migratory flows, significant variations in fertility levels across different countries and ethnic groups and the dizzying growth of large metropolises. These changes alter and sometimes disrupt relations between societies, states and regions of the world and influence political choices, with variable and often unpredictable force and speed. Past and current crises, such as the difficulties faced by governments seeking to control immigration and to manage tensions between religious and ethnic communities, now appear as the inevitable consequence of these demographic changes. Geodemography – the study of how population dynamics influence societies, states and regions and affect the relations between them, over time and throughout the world – can help us to understand these trends. Using a broad repertoire of exemplary cases drawn from recent world history, this book demonstrates that geodemography is an invaluable tool for gaining a deeper appreciation of the changing relations between societies and states and the great challenges we face today.

A note from the author Foreword Chapter One A brief portrait of the world population Chapter Two Limits, boundaries, borders Chapter Three Ethnicities Chapter Four Migration as a weapon Chapter Five A case study: Palestine and Israel Chapter Six Within the state: capitals and territory Chapter Seven Geodemography and religion Chapter Eight Environment, climate, water Conclusion The world of the future: the known and the unknown Appendix World population, 1700-2100 Notes Index