Social Inequality And Demographic Processes

An increasing number of demographers are now feeling that the assumptions of the ?theory of demographic transition? are not tenable, at least for the present day developing countries. The theory has failed to provide a valid explanation of the modern demographic trends ? stability of death rates at relatively higher levels, resistance to family planning, and the meso level complexities of the demographic system. The population science is passing through a stage of crisis and this field of human knowledge is experiencing a kind of paradigm shift. This monograph has attempted to show that the main cause of the failure of the ?demographic transition theory? is its neutrality to the state and dynamics of social structure. Demographic processes are the product of some deep-rooted historicals situations of the groups, and the biographcial conditions of the members of society ? an adequate explanation of population changes without including the aspects of social stratification is not possible. At present, however, there is no social-structural theory of population change. In this context, the author has tried to examine the complexities of such issues involved and has argued that a proper population theory be developed in the light of a proper theory of social stratification.