Outline the concept of Malthusian perspectives on population growth: Malthus was an English clergyman who published an essay in the late eighteenth century - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 2

Malthus was an English clergyman who published an essay in the late eighteenth century, presenting a pessimistic view of population growth. He argued that the power of the population is infinitely greater than the earth's capacity to provide food. Malthus contended that while population increases arithmetically (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), food production increases geometrically (1, 2, 4, 8, 16).

He forecasted that unchecked population growth would inevitably lead to a situation where the population would exceed available resources, leading to a 'population crash' due to famine, war, or disease, which he viewed as natural 'checks' on growth.

While Malthus's perspective dominated early discussions, later interpretations have challenged or expanded on his ideas, transitioning some scholars to anti-Malthusian viewpoints. For instance, the Club of Rome illustrates modern concerns over resource limits and sustainability.

Examples in contemporary contexts, such as severe famines in the Sahel region of Africa, demonstrate Malthusian ideologies in action, revealing how conflicts and environmental degradation can exacerbate food scarcity issues.