Crossroads of demography
In: Stanovništvo: Population = Naselenie, Band 51, Heft 2, S. 23-38
ISSN: 2217-3986
This paper is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Stanovnistvo
(Population) journal, launched by the Center for demographic research in
Belgrade in 1963. The anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on
developments and trends in demography as a discipline, thus the paper points
out certain specifics of these developments. The specifics discussed mirror
the author's choice, which was guided primarily by the criterion of
interestingness, but also by the intention to make a survey. Hence points
about the development of demography are backed by insights made by a number
of other demographers. The major source of references were papers and
speeches given on similar occasions - anniversaries of journals,
anniversaries of associations of demographers, as well as special issues of
journals dedicated to theory and methodology. Certain points are also made
based on other sources of reference. The major part of the paper is related
to transformations of demography, which has started as a predominantly formal
discipline and has developed into a social and interdisciplinary field.
Topical and methodological expansion of demography induces mixed reactions
among demographers. Ones welcome its diversification, whereas others see such
changes as signs of abandoning the essence of demography. This makes it
harder and harder to define the area of demographic research. Changes in
demography are mostly studied from the standpoint of polarized dimensions:
quantitative-qualitative, macro-micro, and, in the context of
diversification, formal demography vs. population studies. Another important
segment of development trends in demography is that of improving its
vocabulary, which is affected by other fields related to demography.
Terminological changes are also related to the specification of certain
branches and subfields of demography. For instance, anthropological and
spatial demography have roots in earlier development phases of demography.
Still, these terms have become popular at a later stage, only when the
methodological and cognitive capacities of the corresponding research
approaches have increased. The paper also indicates that demographers do not
find new inspiration only outside of the core demographic problems. As an
example, man fertility is briefly discussed as an increasingly popular topic
in literature during the last decade. Finally, attractive presentation of
demographic content is found to be very important for visibility and
applicability of demography, which is illustrated by interpreting some of the
most frequently videos related to demography on YouTube. The paper concludes
that different paths that open during the development of demography are not
incompatible, that they represent demographers' diverse choices, and that
they all contribute to strengthening the field.