DEMOGRAPHY AND THE POLITICS OF GLOBAL POPULATIONS

The course aims to provide students with essential demographic concepts, analytical tools, and theoretical perspectives to understand how global population dynamics interact with political processes, power relations, and socio-economic development. It seeks to develop a critical understanding of the role of demography in shaping contemporary societies and of its growing relevance to academic, political, and public debates. Students will develop the ability to critically interpret demographic evidence, compare population dynamics across different national and regional contexts, and assess their implications for governance, public policy, international relations, and socio-economic development. They will learn to examine competing interpretations of demographic change, analyse how population trends both constrain and create opportunities for political action, and understand how institutions, public policies, economic transformations, and social inequalities shape demographic outcomes. The course will also strengthen students’ capacity to evaluate policy responses to population-related challenges, distinguish evidence-based interpretations from deterministic or oversimplified accounts of demographic change, and apply demographic knowledge to complex contemporary issues in a global comparative perspective.

A sound understanding of fundamental statistical concepts is recommended.

Knowledge and understanding Through lectures and practical activities, students will become familiar with the fundamental principles of demography and its links to international relations, urbanization, geopolitics, economic development, and the environment. They will acquire an in-depth understanding of demographic change at the global level, with particular emphasis on the Euro-Mediterranean region and Italy, and of its implications for contemporary societies and political processes. Applying knowledge and understanding Students will become familiar with key demographic methods and techniques, as well as with the main challenges associated with population change. They will develop the ability to identify and critically assess demographic issues, interpret population data, and examine solutions and policy responses. The ability to apply knowledge and understanding will be assessed throughout the course through the analysis of research papers and reports focusing on specific demographic topics, and at the end of the course through an oral examination. Making judgments Students will develop the analytical skills needed to engage critically with contemporary research on demography and social challenges. They will acquire a critical approach to the study of demographic phenomena and their interrelationships with social, economic, and political processes. Using the methods learned during the course, students will be able to select demographic data, academic literature, and other relevant sources, independently assess their quality and reliability, and critically evaluate their relevance to population-related challenges. Communication skills Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to communicate demographic challenges with methodological consistency across socio-economic and geopolitical contexts. Through course activities, including interactive lectures, debates, and group work, they will develop communication skills suited to a variety of settings. They will learn to adapt their language and arguments to different audiences and contexts, strengthening their ability to communicate complex demographic issues effectively in their future professional careers. Learning skills Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to apply the concepts and methods acquired through lectures and seminars to the analysis of different demographic issues and conduct research using specialist texts and academic journals. They will develop a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of demography and related social challenges. Furthermore, they will be equipped to pursue independent research in population studies and engage in further academic and professional training activities, including those focused on demographic topics.

Demographic dynamics and their spatial distribution are fundamental to understanding how societies evolve. The course examines the major dimensions and successive phases of the global demographic transformation, exploring how population processes reshape territorial structures, social relations, and patterns of political, economic, and social development across the world. It addresses the dynamics of fertility, mortality, and migration, as well as changes in population size, age structure, and spatial distribution. Particular attention is devoted to how these processes influence the functioning of states, the allocation of resources, labour markets, welfare systems, urbanization, environmental sustainability, human capital mobility, and relations between countries and regions. The course also considers the implications of demographic change for territorial inequalities, geopolitical and geo-economic competition, and the unequal distribution of demographic opportunities and challenges across populations. While the idea that “demography is destiny” should not be interpreted deterministically, population trends have profoundly influenced—and will continue to influence—the political, economic, and social trajectories of societies. Demographic processes are not merely background conditions: they interact with political institutions, public policies, economic transformations, and social inequalities, shaping how societies respond to global challenges. Against this background, the course explores the political implications of the major contemporary demographic transformations, with particular attention to the politics of fertility, migration, population ageing, and demographic decline. It encourages a comparative examination of demographic trajectories across world regions and of the institutional and policy responses they generate. The Euro-Mediterranean region, especially Italy, provides a key reference point for analysing these dynamics within a broader global perspective.

Mandatory textbook: Lundquist, J.H., Anderton D.L., Yaukey B. (2015), Demography. The study of Human Population. Fourth Edition. Waveland Press In addition, statistical data, reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and lecture slides that will be made available to students through Moodle (the myLuiss course webpage). These materials will complement the required textbooks and support students in achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Lectures supported by audio-visual materials and demographic data; Guest lectures by external experts; Comparative case studies and simulations; Inquiry-based and problem-based learning; Structured seminars and group discussions; Peer learning and student presentations; Flipped classroom activities.

Attending students Team project (30%): written report (15%) and oral presentation (15%) on a topic approved by the instructor. Individual oral exam (70%): based on the textbook and lecture slides. Grades are expressed on a 30-point scale, from 18 to 31, with the following performance levels: sufficient (18–20), good (21–23), very good (24–26), excellent (27–29), and outstanding (30–31). A grade of 17 or below is insufficient to pass the exam. Attendance Policy Regular attendance is required. Students who are unable to attend must notify the instructor and provide valid justification. Students unable to attend regularly will be classified as non-attending students. Non-attending students To pass the exam, non-attending students must write an essay on a topic assigned by the instructor on the day of the exam. Once the essay has been assessed, students will be invited to take an individual oral exam. The oral exam will cover the textbook and lecture slides. The essay topic will be selected from those addressed during the course. Students who anticipate being unable to attend regularly are strongly encouraged to contact the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.

Thesis proposals will be assessed based on: Relevance to the course; Clarity and originality of the research question; Feasibility and availability of data; Student preparation and motivation; Availability of supervision.