Population: A Concept in Crisis?

Juin 2025

Mme Jolene Yiqiao Kong, IHEID Mme Arushi Sahay, IHEID Mme Sachiyo Yagi, IHEID

Prof. Aditya Bharadwaj, IHEID Pre Susan Greenhalgh, Harvard University Other 2 professors to be decided

Our 2-day workshop, titled 'Population: A Concept in Crisis?' aims to explore the intricate and often contentious discourse surrounding the longstanding ‘population problem’ – the biopolitical concerns and moral panics encaptured within and between imminent and predicted booms, explosions and declines, somehow always rooted in a language of crisis. How can we better apprehend the existing contours – and limits – of population as a concept, and in what ways can different disciplines begin to grapple with, challenge, advance, modify and reimagine these contours? The problem-space of population, and debates relating to fertility, mortality, migration and so on, have been at the center of fields such as demography, economics, and the biomedical sciences, and population research has importantly shaped policy interventions as well as public perceptions around the pressing necessity of controlling, managing, and engineering the population arithmetic. In this workshop, we invite researchers from a much wider range of disciplines including anthropology, sociology, history, gender and sexuality studies, to critically reflect upon the historical, philosophical, and socio-political underpinnings of population as a concept – and the associated biopolitical and political-economic investments linked to its framing as a problem, a threat, and a crisis. In a time of fascinating interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersections of demography, qualitative research, feminist studies and anthropology, we extend this workshop as an opportunity for researchers to reimagine the various material, political, economic, and social dimensions of population – as a concept and a theoretical framework, as a matter of policy and governance, as a site of contestations and conflicts, as a space of rights and advocacy, and its profound gendered and racialized manifestations. One of our key objectives is to theoretically foreground, and reflect upon, the question of crisis: pointing both to (i) the language of crisis which continues to undergird the population problem, and in finding ourselves at an impasse with this continued framing of crisis, to (ii) the crisis of population as a concept, its extent and limits, and the alternate diagnoses, routes and possibilities of this ‘problem’ – which we hope to chart out through this workshop. We will thus invite participants from varied backgrounds to contribute historical, qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic as well as theoretical and conceptual perspectives from their own research work and fields. By incorporating diverse perspectives from researchers spread across different disciplinary domains as well as geographical regions, we aim to develop a comprehensive discussion that combines zooming in on specific local, cultural population dynamics and trends, with a broader analysis of transnational connections and emergent challenges at a global scale. We will invite three external professors to provide their unique regional insights. We plan to invite experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, such as feminist demography and population studies, to ensure a range of perspectives informed by different academic focuses. While Aditya Bharadwaj, our professor at IHEID, will offer a European perspective with anthropological focus, ensuring that the conversation spans multiple cultural and geographic contexts. Introduction of Experts: Aditya Bharadwaj from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, IHEID: His teaching brings together fields of Anthropology and Sociology of health, reproduction, biotechnologies and the gendered body. The research on the other hand uncovers the local and global dimensions underscoring the production, utilisation and circulation of biomedicine and biotechnologies. In particular his research examines: (a) global politics of biotechnologies (b) emerging bioeconomies (c) cultural production of knowledge (d) subject formation (e) ethical and moral governance (f) transnational therapeutic mobility (g) gendered nature of scientific practice and application. In large part his academic and research interests are focused on the burgeoning rise of bioscience and biotechnologies in India and remain attentive to how gender, sexuality and difference inflect the human condition, institutions and politics. Susan Greenhalgh from the Department of Anthropology, Harvard University: Professor of Anthropology and John King and Wilma Cannon Fairbank Professor of Chinese Society at Harvard University. Greenhalgh’s work seeks to understand the emergence of new forms of scientific governance in the context of rapid shifts in global and local political economies. Inspired by Foucault’s bold proposition on biopower – that the body is the central domain of politics and power in the modern era – her work illuminates hidden fields of “vital politics” and shows why an in-depth understanding of modern science is essential to unraveling power’s workings and often unjust effects. Her research has focused on three fields of bodily governance: the management of populations, clinical biomedicine, and global health. Three books written between 2000 and 2010 ask different questions about the governance of China’s society. Just One Child: Science and Policy in Deng’s China (2008) uncovers the origins of the notorious one-child policy in early reform-era population science and politics. Governing China’s Population: From Leninist to Neoliberal Biopolitics (2005, with political scientist Edwin A. Winckler) traces the “governmentalization” of China’s population – how since around 1980 population has been brought under rationalized control – and the attending rise of a vast new field of vital politics involving power over the production and cultivation of life itself. Cultivating Global Citizens: Population in the Rise of China (2010) traces the connections between the state’s massive project to govern its population and foster its society, and the nation’s rise to global power. Other 2 professors to be decided. The activities of the workshop will include: - Interdisciplinary Panel Discussions & Research Presentations: Featuring scholars from anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and more, these panels will address the theoretical underpinnings and contemporary challenges associated with the concept of population. Doctoral researchers will present their ongoing work related to reproduction and population studies, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. - Roundtable Discussions: Facilitated discussions will encourage participants to engage with each other’s work, fostering a collaborative environment to rethink and reimagine the future of population studies. - Methodology roundtable: A methodology roundtable to discuss various research methodologies and theoretical frameworks, exploring innovative tools and approaches currently being used in the study of population. - Reading exchange and discussions: Share and discuss influential readings that shape understanding of population issues across different cultural contexts. The overall aim is to cultivate a rich and diverse dialogue that speaks both to multilateral policy concerns and the more localized issues within nation-states that are grappling with the notion of an optimal, measurable population as a biopolitical construct. Preliminary program Day 1: Foundations and Global Perspectives 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Arrival, Welcome, Introduction, and Setting Intentions Activities: Welcome address by the organizers. Introduction of the workshop’s themes and objectives. Round of introductions for all participants. Setting intentions for the workshop, including goals and expectations. 10:10 AM - 12:30 PM: Morning Session - Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Population Format: Panel presentations and discussion. Focus: Explore the historical, philosophical, and theoretical roots of population concepts, with insights from diverse global perspectives. Activities: Presentations by selected participants or invited speakers (15-20 minutes each). Group discussion to connect these foundations with current research and policy concerns. 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch Break 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Afternoon Session - Global and Local Population Dynamics Format: One session divided into two subsessions with a coffee break. Subsession 1: Case Studies and Regional Insights (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM) Focus: Discuss case studies from different continents, focusing on the interaction between local contexts and global population concerns. Activities: Small group discussions on regional case studies, followed by brief presentations. 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Coffee Break Subsession 2: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Reproduction and Population Studies (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Focus: Highlight and analyze interdisciplinary methods in population studies with a cross-cultural focus. Activities: Participant-led presentations, followed by a group discussion on integrating diverse perspectives into research. 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Evening Activity - Reading Exchange and Discussion Format: Informal and interactive session. Focus: Share and discuss influential readings that shape understanding of population issues across different cultural contexts. Activities: Each participant presents an excerpt (5 minutes), followed by an open discussion on its implications for future research. Day 2: Intersections in Population Studies 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Morning Session - Gender and Queer Studies in Population Research Format: Panel presentations and collaborative discussion. Focus: Examine how gender and queer studies intersect with population studies, with an emphasis on diverse cultural perspectives. Activities: Presentations by participants or invited speakers, focusing on how gender and queer theories inform population research. Group discussion to explore the implications of these intersections for future research and policy. 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch Break 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Afternoon Session - Power, Biopolitics, and Governance in Population Studies Format: Interactive discussion and collaborative exploration. Focus: Analyze the roles of power, biopolitics, and governance in shaping population policies and practices across different contexts. Activities: Presentations and case studies examining how biopolitical frameworks influence population governance. Collaborative discussion to synthesize insights and propose future research directions. 4:00 PM - 4.30 PM: Workshop Concludes Wrap-Up: Final reflections and discussion on the next steps for research and collaboration. 4.30 PM: Departure Target audience This workshop is designed for doctoral researchers who are actively engaged in topics related to reproduction and the broader questions outlined above. We seek to include ongoing research from various geographical contexts to ensure a diverse and comprehensive discussion. There is no restriction on the geographical focus of the research, as the inclusion of varied perspectives will enrich the dialogue. Participants from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to join, including but not limited to anthropology, sociology, political science, history, economics, public policy, development studies, international relations, and gender studies. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for fostering a rich, diverse, intersectional, and comprehensive discussion on reproduction and population studies. We envision organizing the workshop into four sessions, each clustered around similar research topics, methodologies, and theoretical approaches. The main focus will be to bring together doctoral students whose work intersects with contemporary reproduction scholarship, enabling them to share, exchange, and critically engage with each other’s research within a broader and shared context. The workshop aspires to create an inclusive and dynamic environment where participants can explore the multifaceted dimensions of population as a concept, its historical and contemporary relevance, and its implications for policy and practice in an ever-evolving global context. Through this collaborative effort, we hope to generate new insights and propose innovative solutions to the pressing biopolitical challenges of our time.

Crêt-Bérard

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