The war on poverty earlier was intertwined with the population problem. Statements and positions regarding population began to proliferate. In many instances, a crude form of empiricism was followed. It made Malthusian views and prescriptions inevitable.

This is despite the experts making serious attempts to conceptualise the effect of demographic factors on development; models and theories were formulated seeking to relate various variables and to provide a basis for policy and programme formulation. As the experience of the West suggested, it was hoped that population growth rates would begin to fall as the countries developed. But, as many warned, countries could not wait for this process to occur. They should speed up the reduction of population growth by more direct means.

To be sure, this preoccupation with population had existed for several decades, especially in relation to Asia. It was a central topic in discussion on race and racism. But the scale and form that the discussion took were new.

The discussion held in academic circles or in the ambit of the nascent international organisations also had a new tone. They focused on topics such as the relationship between economic growth and population control. They also discussed topics such as the demographic experience of rich countries and its possible impact on poor nations. Now the need is a new view of population, with new scientific and technological instruments to manage it.