International Relations, The New Population Bomb
Population: The article certainly addresses population, in the sense of human resource, as a key component for industrialization and sustainability unto the future. Demographic elements in the population of a country influence a country's predisposition to domestic production, political stability, and regional influence. The article argues that a change in the population brought about by a change in the population size composition, and distribution relative to that of neighboring countries has a direct impact on the country's GDP and international security. The article postulates that for sustainability unto the future, a renewal in the population's working force (by maintaining proportional composition and distribution) was essential.
Culture: The article does not address culture to any meaningful extent. However, it uses one element of culture i.e. religion, adopting a radical approach to it in justifying the threat imposed by high growth rate in Muslim states.
Industrialization: The article discusses industrialization as amongst the major changes onto the future as well as an intermediate effect of the change in population demographics. Consequently, industrialization as identified in the article will be a determinant for international trade and influence the flow of capital and human resources as between countries. However, the article fails to establish which sectors of these economies will influence the transition of the developing countries into fully developed states as forecasted.
[...] I agree with the author that the availability of a relatively youthful and educated generation is key for sustainability of a nation. This part of the population needs to form the majority of the workforce to contribute to the country's domestic production to sustainable levels. However, I find it inconclusive that a majority of the population consisting of aged people will necessarily relate to a diminished consumption of the economy for industries. To me, although to some degree it might be so, a change in the composition merely constitutes transference of purchasing power from a given bundle of goods onto another. [...]
[...] Secondly, it discusses the issue of politics in relation to the US' super power status. The article argues that unto the future, it might be impossible to identify one country as the sole custodian of international security instead; perhaps there will be the presence of a “block power.” The article identifies that in the future; there will be high levels of immigration into United States. This is to offer healthcare services to the rapidly growing population and provision of services in industries such as public works and food production. [...]
[...] International Relations - The New Population Bomb Synopsis: There is a foreseeable shift amongst the superpowers of the present world within the next half a century or so. The driving force following the paradigm shift in international security and by extension, economic power, and affluence is attributable to changes in the “global population composition and distribution.” In spite of the anticipated burst in industrial development in developing and less developed countries, these rates are disproportionate to the countries growth rate of per capita income; forecasting a serious destabilization effect in consequence (Goldstone 2010). [...]
[...] I agree to the extent of changes in population size in totality. However, it is manifest that the author creates a bias against the Muslim community by associating their large population in the world with the rise in terrorism activities. Terrorists, although, primarily radicalized by teachings of Islam, does not equate to a generalization on all those who practice the religion of Islam. Besides, a hypothetical threat such as the one preempted by the author can be easily expended with owing to the superior military capability of the U.S army. [...]
[...] However, it fails to recognize that in these very same developed countries that are forecasted to experience population discrepancies are incubators for new technology; in particular robotics. The use of robots is already in practice and has seen significant improvement in both quality and quantity of production. The article fails to recognize that the rapidly ageing population thus a decrease in the active labor force can be offset by the introduction of robotics technology into production (Haegele, et al. 2005). Reference Goldstone, Jack. "The New Population Bomb." Foreign Affairs Vol Issue 2010: 31-43. Haegele, Martin, Thomas Skordas, Stephan Sagert, Rainer Bischoff, Torgny Brogardh, and Manfred Dresselhaus. [...]
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