Usos y abusos de la «razón demográfica»Uses and Abuses of the «Demographic Reason»

Abstract

There is no lack of evidence of the distances that may exist between certain uses of the «demographic reason» (likely to become fashionable at times) and the (often discreet) lessons of an analysis that, at the same time, addresses demographically the facts and processes of population, and thinks historically and geographically the signals revealed by demography. The interactions between demographic, socioeconomic, political, legal, cultural and ideological factors are manifold. It is advisable to be warned against hasty and linear causal imputations. These shortcuts emerge strongly in the political discourse and the current media story but they radiate to the field of scientific and academic production and, evidently, leave traces in their agendas. A selection of examples gives rise to summarize some points for discussion.