Unit Demography and International Population Policies

Course
International relations
Study-unit Code
A001438
Curriculum
Migration, globalisation and world governance
Teacher
Donatella Lanari
Teachers
  • Donatella Lanari
Hours
  • 32 ore - Donatella Lanari
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2021/22
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Economico
Academic discipline
SECS-S/04
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
English Language.
Contents
In the first part of the course students will familiarize with Key concepts of demography: methods and analysis of the growth and structure of populations, including measurement of fertility, mortality and migration patterns. Sources of demographic data: the main national and international surveys. Recent demographic trends: population ageing and low fertility.
The second part of the course aims to explain the changes that involved the demographic patterns over time, the role of the populations policies and of the international migrations.
The history of human poppulation growth and carryng capacity. Demographic transitions. The
populations of the developing countries: trends from the 1950s to the 2017. The future scenarios of the world population. Considerations on population policies. From he Action Plan of Il Cairo (1994) to its revision in 2010. The international migrations in the past. The recent changes of migratory flows in Europe and Italy.
Reference texts
-M. Livi Bacci
A Concise History of World Population, 6th Edition, 2017 Wiley-Blackwell

-Selected papers, Lecture notes and documents will be available on the E-learning website
Educational objectives
Students will acquire the appropriate instruments and abilities necessary for a correct interpretation of the different evolutions of populations in rich and poor countries. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the interrelations between demographic, economic and social phenomena; they will correctly interpret the data, trends and implications for future demographic developments. Knowledge of the population policies and the role of international migrations will be achieved; that will be also supported by the capacity of integrating several different and complex phenomena.
Prerequisites
Not required
Teaching methods
Face-to-face lectures; seminars

If pandemic crisis will continue, teaching will be both on-line and with face-to-face lectures.
Learning verification modality
The final test consists of an oral examination on all the contents of the course and the topics examined in depth trough recommended texts.
If pandemic crisis will continue, examinations will be on-line.
Extended program
The course is divided into three parts. Firstly, it aims to explain the most important changes that involved the demographic patterns over time during the demographic transition. Secondly, the course will highlight the role of the population policies in encouraging the development of the poorest countries and in modifying their demographic behaviours. Finally, we will discuss the role of the international migrations in easing the differential population pressure.

First part: The space and strategies of the population growth. Outline of the earth's population. The demographic development between choice and constraint. The contemporary demography from "dispersion to efficiency". Demographic transitions. Relationship between demographic and economic growth. The populations of the developing countries: trends from the 1950s to the 2000.

Second part: Considerations on population policies. The UN world conferences on population. The Action Plan of El Cairo (1994) and its revisions; monitoring the objectives in 2010. Indicators of human development. The future scenarios of world population; relations with the economic growth and emerging limits.

Third part: The international migrations. Sources: limitations and problems. International migrations in the past, with particular reference to Italian emigration in the last century. The recent changes in the international migration flows: migrations and development; irregular migration; the consequences of the economic crisis. The contemporary European migrations and migration policies in the European Union. Italy in the new system of international migrations: foreign immigration in Italy: sources, trends, policies and perspectives
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