Changing Demographics and Its Impact on World Affairs: The New Population Bomb

In his article, The New Population Bomb: The Four Megatrends That Will Change the World (Foreign Affairs, January/February 2010 (registration required)), Jack Goldstone offers this stark information:

"In 1950, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey had a combined population of 242 million. By 2009, those six countries were the world's most populous Muslim-majority countries and had a combined population of 886 million. Their populations are continuing to grow and indeed are expected to increase by 475 million between now and 2050--during which time, by comparison, the six most populous developed countries are projected to gain only 44 million inhabitants. Worldwide, of the 48 fastest-growing countries today--those with annual population growth of two percent or more--28 are majority Muslim or have Muslim minorities of 33 percent or more."

That ought to get your attention. These population changes will require significant adjustment to foreign policy thinking, international trade, education, immigration, and economic policies. And as to religious freedom and other basic human rights...

Western societies cannot change these population trends, and so they'd better gain a better understanding of how to meet the challenges that will arise. Will the substantial increases in Muslims in these countries result in even less religious freedom? Or will that growth mean that Muslim governments will have a lesser ability to control the people and limit their rights? How does this impact radical Islamists? Will the increasing population of young people have a desire for Western things and ideals? Or will they move along more radical paths? The world is changing quickly, and we'd better be ready for it.

Make sure to read the entire article here.