The Future Faces of War: Population and National Security (The Changing Face of War)

This comprehensive and clear volume reveals the numerous ways demographic trends such as age structure, composition, and migration influence national security.Population size, structure, distribution, and composition affect security in numerous ways, including national power, civil conflict, and development. The Future Faces of War: Population and National Security offers a comprehensive overview of how demographic trends can function as components, indicators, and multipliers of a state's national security. Each chapter focuses on a particular demographic trend and describes its national security implications in three realms—military, regime, and structural.Illustrating the mechanisms by which demography and security are connected, the book pushes the conversation forward by challenging common conceptions about demographic trends and national security. Key for policymakers and general readers alike, it goes on to suggest ways trends can provide opportunities for building partnerships and strengthening states. Focusing on multiple scenarios and the theoretical links between population and security, the insights gathered here will remain relevant for years to come. Population size, structure, distribution, and composition affect security in numerous ways, including national power, civil conflict, and development. The Future Faces of War: Population and National Security offers a comprehensive overview of how demographic trends can function as components, indicators, and multipliers of a state's national security. Each chapter focuses on a particular demographic trend and describes its national security implications in three realms--military, regime, and structural. Illustrating the mechanisms by which demography and security are connected, the book pushes the conversation forward by challenging common conceptions about demographic trends and national security. Key for policymakers and general readers alike, it goes on to suggest ways trends can provide opportunities for building partnerships and strengthening states. Focusing on multiple scenarios and the theoretical links between population and security, the insights gathered here will remain relevant for years to come. World population now stands at almost 7 billion and if current trends continue, more than 11 billion people will populate our planet by 2050. Large youth populations, massive migration, and differential growth among ethnic groups suggest that the 21st century will undoubtedly include multiple threats to national security: interstate wars, civil conflict, and millions of deaths from poverty and disease. At the same time, urbanization and maturing age structures will create new opportunities for peace and prosperity The main purpose of this book is to describe the national security implications of demographic trends. Specifically, it recommends an approach for systematically including population variables in assessments of national security; identifies and describes the trends most likely to pose challenges and opportunities for national security; and, forecasts how these trends are likely to develop in tandem with other political, economic, and social trends A Framework For Demography And National Security -- Youth And Youthful Age Structures -- Population Aging -- Transitional Age Structures -- Migration And Internally Displaced Persons -- Urbanization And Urban Areas -- Other Challenges Of Composition -- Challenges And Opportunities For The 21st Century. Jennifer Dabbs Sciubba. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.