The conflict between Marx and Malthus as it exists today

Inaugural lecture--Department of Sociology, Rand Afrikaans University, 28 July 1975The conflict between Marx and Malthus as it exists today, centres around the problems of poverty and development in the Third World where the very high rate of population growth seems to nullify the attempts made towards development. Whereas the rate of population growth in the developed countries averages only 1,0% per year, population in the Third World increases by 2,3% per year. This will result not only in a 78,6% share of the total world population in the year 2000, but will also imply that almost 2/3 of investment in these countries will be directed to the maintenance of their already low standards of living, leaving only 1/3 to be implemented towards increasing the per capita income. In contrast we find that in developed countries only 1/3 of the natural income is being used to maintain their already high standards of living, while the remaining two-thirds can be geared towards further increases in the per capita income. The overwhelming proportion of children in the Third World populations results in one quarter of the available food resources being used by children not participating in the production process. It is estimated that with a population growth of 2,4% per year, and a yearly increase of 4% in the Gross National Product, it will take a country 43 years to double its per capita income. It is in view of these problems that the neo-Malthusian or Western approach stresses population control as an integral part of development and developmental aid. The antagonism nevertheless displayed by the underdeveloped countries towards curtailing their population growth, has been actively encouraged by the Soviet Union and Communist China. Partly, because of the connotation between Malthusian propaganda for birth control and a class egoism and racism, Russia and China have gained support with their attitude. The Communist countries probably also hopes for the mobilization of this ever growing proletariat in the non-aligned countries towards a Communist take-over. In sharp contrast with this view being held towards the less-developed world, we find that the rate of population increase in the Soviet-Union and the Communist countries of Eastern Europe have in fact declined to the same level as those of Western countries. In South Africa, where the dualism of rich and underdeveloped/poor countries is present in micro format, the population increase of the poorer population groups can be reduced by a redistribution of the national income within the Capitalist context, whereby more training and employment opportunities can create an individual strive towards selfimprovement an upward mobility. This runs counter to the Marxism ideal of class solidarity as the essential motor of revolution