| Sumario: | The writer assesses the role of population in international affairs, offering a contrasting evaluation to that which is generally proposed. Numerous current studies, which concentrate on environmental and demographic factors as a cause of conflict, appear to presume an unwarranted influence for demographic factors in determining the course of social, economic, and political events in developing regions. However, the actual effect of population change in developing regions seems to be less clear-cut and less categorical than many contemporary intellectuals and internationalists suppose. Depending on the particular circumstances, rapid population growth can yield opportunities as well as constraints, produce benefits as well as costs, and be conducive to political stability as well as turmoil. There is growing evidence to suggest that the scope for affecting demographic trends in low-income nations through voluntary population policies is far more limited than many advocates of international family planning efforts appear to recognize.
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