Population growth – a key problem of our time

But there are unsustainable, problematic developments in other regions of the world too. For example, the population of India, now the most populous country in the world, is growing by around 14 million per year. This means that more than 15 percent of global population growth is taking place in this country alone.

And the "solution"? Is there one at all?

If one accepts this outline of the problem as essentially correct – at least to a large extent, or in key areas – many questions arise:

What can we do? Can we influence demographic development at all, especially if the people in question live in distant geographical regions and in other cultures?

Is it even legitimate for "us in the global North" (or the West) to think about what others – countries, regions, groups of people – should or may do? Is it not perhaps presumptuous and hence inappropriate in view of our colonial past, characterized by exploitation?

And are not the contentions of critiques right that any population policy that has been implemented has shown that it is inherently reactionary and inhumane?

We believe, despite all such concerns and objections, that it is time to overcome this defensive attitude and bring the subjects of population growth and population policy out of the taboo zone.
Stopping population growth is not only a planetary necessity. It is also in the interest of the countries that are overburdened in every respect by a rapidly growing population.

Population policy is not reactionary per se. As in other policy areas, it depends on the specific form it takes. It needs the highest possible degree of participation, education and self-empowerment of the people concerned, which builds on their own maturity, preventing abuse. There are already encouraging examples of this here and there, such as the educational work of Hermione Quenum in Benin.

So what can be done?

1. Make it visible, make it a topic for discussion!

We are well aware that it is particularly difficult for politicians from rich countries and countries with a colonial past to address this issue publicly. But they get many opportunities to draw, in confidential talks, the attention of their counterparts of the global South to the urgency of the issue.

Clarity in communication is particularly important. For example, by making it clear that high numbers of children do not mean more wealth, but, on the contrary, even more poverty and underdevelopment. And that it is not only "evil forces from outside" that are responsible for underdevelopment and lack of prospects of better times in these regions. It must be made clear that there is also a substantial home-made contribution to this bad situation and that it includes, first and foremost, high population growth.