Demographic Transition Theory

A Neglected Aspect of the Nomadism-Sedentarism Continuum

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8964055
AutoresAvinoam Meir (0000-0001-6450-7407, autor de correspondencia)
Año1986
Volumen11
Número2
Páginas199-199
Fecha de publicación1986-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTransactions of the Institute of British Geographers (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0020-2754 • E-ISSN: 1475-5661
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2307/622006
PMID12314312
OpenAlexW2054323817
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas17
Referencias citadas6

This paper proposes an adaptation of demographic transition theory to the nomadism-sedentarism continuum. It is argued that a change along this continuum implies a change in the mode of production, which in turn entails changes in fertility and mortality. The following hypotheses are set forth: 1) at the pastoral phase of a nomadic society, fertility is relatively low and mortality is relatively high, yielding a low rate of natural increase; 2) as a pastoral nomadic society senentarizes, fertility begins to rise and mortality falls, resulting in a sharp rise in natural increase, but as sedentarization becomes more advanced, both these trends slow down somewhat; 3) as the nomadic society becomes fully sedentarized, there is a period in which fertility remains at a high level but then begins to fall slowly, whereas mortality, after reaching a temporary minimum, exhibits a minor increase followed by a resumption of a declining trend; and 4) in the postsedentarization phase, the demographic regime of the ex-nomads becomes similar to the 2nd and 3rd stages of the original demographic transition theory, with a slowdown of the decline in mortality, followed by a later slowdown of fertility and of the rate of natural increase. The hypothesis of rising fertility among sedentarizing nomads is related to both social modernization and economic growth and development, including an improved standard of living and public health services. The interrelated processes of general societal responses to population growth and the changing role of children in the family are assumed to account for the eventual fertility decline. Data from several countries, including a case history from Israel, suggest that birth rates increase along the continuum but their decline at postsedentarization will depend on trends in the general rural sector. Natural increase rates of sedentarizing nomads are considerably higher than those of pastoral nomads. It is concluded that this approach may fill a gap in demographic transition theory and provide a conceptual framework for future studies

Demographic economics · Demographic transition · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Family planning · Fertility · Modernization theory · Natural fertility · Population · Population growth · Research methodology · Sociology · Total fertility rate · Demography · Health and Conflict Studies · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology