
Geodemography
How Population Shapes the Relations Between States
Massimo Livi-Bacci(Author)
Polity Press
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 28. November 2025
Book
Hardback
144 pages
978-1-5095-6786-7 (ISBN)
Description
The last hundred years have witnessed the ongoing decline of Europe's population and the explosion of Africa's, major changes in migratory flows, significant variations in fertility levels across different countries and ethnic groups and the dizzying growth of large metropolises. These changes alter and sometimes disrupt relations between societies, states and regions of the world and influence political choices, with variable and often unpredictable force and speed. Past and current crises, such as the difficulties faced by governments seeking to control immigration and to manage tensions between religious and ethnic communities, now appear as the inevitable consequence of these demographic changes.
Geodemography - the study of how population dynamics influence societies, states and regions and affect the relations between them, over time and throughout the world - can help us to understand these trends. Using a broad repertoire of exemplary cases drawn from recent world history, this book demonstrates that geodemography is an invaluable tool for gaining a deeper appreciation of the changing relations between societies and states and the great challenges we face today.
Geodemography - the study of how population dynamics influence societies, states and regions and affect the relations between them, over time and throughout the world - can help us to understand these trends. Using a broad repertoire of exemplary cases drawn from recent world history, this book demonstrates that geodemography is an invaluable tool for gaining a deeper appreciation of the changing relations between societies and states and the great challenges we face today.
Reviews / Votes
"A brilliant global explanation and description of demographics past, present and future. The world authority, Livi-Bacci, unequivocally demolishes the racist fairy tales of far-right anti-immigration conspiracy theories. Geodemography is astute, witty, careful and kind, full of warnings, good advice - and hope."Danny Dorling, University of Oxford
"Drawing from his experience as a world-class demographer, Livi-Bacci has devised a perspective -geodemography - that allows him to tackle the variety of population developments as they impact state policies and international relations. A must-read for students of geopolitics and world history."
Bruno Ramirez, University of Montreal
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
295 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-6786-7 (9781509567867)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Wiley
€14.99
Available for download

Book
approx. 11/2025
1st Edition
Polity Press
€19.00
Not yet published
Persons
Massimo Livi-Bacci is Emeritus Professor of Demography at the University of Florence.
Content
A note from the author
Foreword
Chapter One
A brief portrait of the world population
Chapter Two
Limits, boundaries, borders
Chapter Three
Ethnicities
Chapter Four
Migration as a weapon
Chapter Five
A case study: Palestine and Israel
Chapter Six
Within the state: capitals and territory
Chapter Seven
Geodemography and religion
Chapter Eight
Environment, climate, water
Conclusion
The world of the future: the known and the unknown
Appendix
World population, 1700-2100
Notes
Index
Foreword
Chapter One
A brief portrait of the world population
Chapter Two
Limits, boundaries, borders
Chapter Three
Ethnicities
Chapter Four
Migration as a weapon
Chapter Five
A case study: Palestine and Israel
Chapter Six
Within the state: capitals and territory
Chapter Seven
Geodemography and religion
Chapter Eight
Environment, climate, water
Conclusion
The world of the future: the known and the unknown
Appendix
World population, 1700-2100
Notes
Index