Changing the world or reacting to a changed world? : the global politics of population after the International Conference on Population and Development

This thesis explores the global politics of population and reproduction since 1994, when the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was held in Cairo. The thesis is presented within the disciplinary framework of International Relations in the understanding that debates about population and reproduction are intensely political. The central question is "Did the ICPD change the world, and if not, why not?" based upon the statement made by Nafis Sadik who, in 1994, was the Executive Director of UNFPA. Sadik's statement reflected the views of many in the international women's health movement, which played a major role in setting the agenda for the ICPD, as the thesis outlines. The thesis is organised in six chapters, analysing the micro and macro aspects of ICPD's Programme of Action (POA). It explores the transformative aspects of ICPD which are found in its micro agenda of women's empowerment, reproductive rights and reproductive health. The key concepts are explored and debates about them within the broad and diverse feminist movement, as well as with the conservative opponents, are analysed in the thesis. The macro context necessary for the achievement of the POA's micro agenda was inadequately considered by the major players at ICPD and, hence, poorly covered in the POA. Development was given little attention, and the already weak concept of sustainable development was further compromised by its contextualisation within a framework of economic growth. Consequently, the thesis concludes, the transformative micro agenda was given no support by this part of the POA. The thesis tracks developments in global political economy which were occurring alongside the UN conferences of the 1990s. It focuses particularly on the World Bank, which is a major player in global population politics. Indonesia provides a case study of the impacts of global economic trends on reproductive health in a country with a population program which in 1994 was viewed as a model for other developing countries. The macro context is also determined by approaches to population in environmental discourses since the framework of sustainable development in which population was placed in 1994 combined environmental and economic objectives. Neo-Malthusian views have provided the 'common sense' approach to population, particularly within Northern environmental organisations, and key documents are trawled to discern whether these views have been modified within some environmental and population organisations. The thesis concludes by considering the contribution that the ICPD has made to population and broader debates and by assessing the contribution that topics related to population and reproduction can make to the discipline of International Relations. Throughout the thesis, the writings of Southern feminists are sought wherever possible, and the impacts of population and health policies on poor women are the main focus. As the people on the receiving end of population policies, the success of the conference is best measured by improvements in their health and their greater access to the conditions which enable them to exercise their reproductive and other human rights