Fatal Misconception : The Struggle to Control World Population

Listen to a short interview with Matthew Connelly Host: Chris Gondek | Producer: Heron & Crane Fatal Misconception is the disturbing story of our quest to remake humanity by policing national borders and breeding better people. As the population of the world doubled once, and then again, well-meaning people concluded that only population control could preserve the "quality of life." This movement eventually spanned the globe and carried out a series of astonishing experiments, from banning Asian immigration to paying poor people to be sterilized. Supported by affluent countries, foundations, and non-governmental organizations, the population control movement experimented with ways to limit population growth. But it had to contend with the Catholic Church's ban on contraception and nationalist leaders who warned of "race suicide." The ensuing struggle caused untold suffering for those caught in the middle--particularly women and children. It culminated in the horrors of sterilization camps in India and the one-child policy in China. Matthew Connelly offers the first global history of a movement that changed how people regard their children and ultimately the face of humankind. It was the most ambitious social engineering project of the twentieth century, one that continues to alarm the global community. Though promoted as a way to lift people out of poverty--perhaps even to save the earth--family planning became a means to plan other people‘s families. With its transnational scope and exhaustive research into such archives as Planned Parenthood and the newly opened Vatican Secret Archives, Connelly's withering critique uncovers the cost inflicted by a humanitarian movement gone terribly awry and urges renewed commitment to the reproductive rights of all people. (20080114) From The Publisher: Fatal Misconception Is The Disturbing Story Of Our Quest To Remake Humanity By Policing National Borders And Breeding Better People. As The Population Of The World Doubled Once, And Then Again, Well-meaning People Concluded That Only Population Control Could Preserve The Quality Of Life. This Movement Eventually Spanned The Globe And Carried Out A Series Of Astonishing Experiments, From Banning Asian Immigration To Paying Poor People To Be Sterilized. Supported By Affluent Countries, Foundations, And Non-governmental Organizations, The Population Control Movement Experimented With Ways To Limit Population Growth. But It Had To Contend With The Catholic Church's Ban On Contraception And Nationalist Leaders Who Warned Of Race Suicide. The Ensuing Struggle Caused Untold Suffering For Those Caught In The Middle-particularly Women And Children. It Culminated In The Horrors Of Sterilization Camps In India And The One-child Policy In China. Matthew Connelly Offers The First Global History Of A Movement That Changed How People Regard Their Children And Ultimately The Face Of Humankind. It Was The Most Ambitious Social Engineering Project Of The Twentieth Century, One That Continues To Alarm The Global Community. Though Promoted As A Way To Lift People Out Of Poverty-perhaps Even To Save The Earth-family Planning Became A Means To Plan Other People's Families. With Its Transnational Scope And Exhaustive Research Into Such Archives As Planned Parenthood And The Newly Opened Vatican Secret Archives, Connelly's Withering Critique Uncovers The Cost Inflicted By A Humanitarian Movement Gone Terribly Awry And Urges Renewed Commitment To The Reproductive Rights Of All People. Preface -- Abbreviations -- Introduction: How Biology Became History -- Populations Out Of Control -- To Inherit The Earth -- Populations At War -- Birth Of The Third World -- The Population Establishment -- Controlling Nations -- Beyond Family Planning -- A System Without A Brain -- Reproducing Rights, Reproducing Health -- Conclusion: The Threat Of The Future -- Notes -- Archives And Interviews -- Acknowledgments -- Index. Matthew Connelly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 388-485) And Index. CONTENTS......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 14 Introduction: How Biology Became History......Page 18 1. Populations out of Control......Page 35 2. To Inherit the Earth......Page 63 3. Populations at War......Page 94 4. Birth of the Third World......Page 132 5. The Population Establishment......Page 172 6. Controlling Nations......Page 212 7. Beyond Family Planning......Page 254 8. A System without a Brain......Page 293 9. Reproducing Rights, Reproducing Health......Page 344 Conclusion: The Threat of the Future......Page 387 Notes......Page 404 Archives and Interviews......Page 504 Acknowledgments......Page 508 Index......Page 510 A first global history of family planning tells the disturbing story of humankind's quest to remake ourselves by policing national borders and breeding better people, under the name of using population control to preserve the "quality of life."