On the Demographic Basis of Democratization
When:
—
Venue:
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
No booking required
On the Demographic Basis of Democratization
BISR Population, Environment and Resources Working Group
Speaker: Professor Tim Dyson, London School of Economics
In this talk, Professor Tim Dyson will argue that the processes of the demographic transition have played a major role in bringing about the democratic transition. Using the median age of a population as an indicator of the extent to which it has progressed through the demographic transition - especially with respect to the concurrent processes of fertility decline, slowing population growth, and population aging - it will be argued that there was a relatively close relationship in Europe between the democratic and demographic transitions. Moreover, Dyson will also suggest that progress with respect to the demographic transition is also important in accounting for variation between countries with respect to democracy in recent decades. Theoretically and empirically, the case for a demographic basis of democratization is stronger than for an economic one. The lecture will draw on Tim Dyson (2013) 'On demographic and democratic transitions', Population and Development Review 38(Supp.): 83-101, and Ben Wilson and Tim Dyson (2016) 'Democracy and the demographic transition', Democratization.
The talk will be followed by a drinks reception.
Free event open to all: Book your place
The Population, Environment and Resources (PER) Working Group examines global connections between population, environment and resource dynamics and their links to politics.
Birkbeck Institute for Social Research (BISR) is the focal point for social research at Birkbeck and a hub for its dissemination and discussion in London and beyond.
Contact name:
Madisson Brown