The diversity of demographic questions, depending on
whether we speak of the Third World or Europe, finds its reflection in the ambiguity
of relationships between Europe and the United States.
a) The United States and the Anglo-Saxon world in
general have been pioneers in the area of contraception, sterilization and abortion. The main Malthusian and Neomalthusian theses continue to be widely
spread from centers based in the USA or
England. These countries have shared with Europe their obsession with "demographic
security" regarding the Third World whose expansion they fear very much.
This communal interest leads Europe and the USA to join forces in order to restrict the
demographic pressure of the Third World, and they don't hesitate to control international institutions to attain their end. They even
seek in the new antagonism between the North and the South the
cohesive cement which the previous East-West antagonism no longer assures them.
b) Nevertheless, beyond this community
of interests, it appears more and more clear that some wealthier countries of the West
wish to prevent the emergence of new rivals, whoever they might be.
1
The Third World in general is, in the end, a potential
rival whose emergence must be controlled. Let us mention rapidly
two examples.
- first of all China: it
"benefits" from an "aid" to demographic control the breadth and
effectiveness of which have recently been denounced;
- then Mexico: a country developing
in step with the city, it must be watched more closely; and it has since been integrated
into a "free market" regrouping of the states of North America.
0f different concern, however, is the maintenance of
European power with the organization of the European Union.
c) One can wonder if Europe is not in the process of
itself destroying its ability to intervene in favor of the development of the Third World.
By consenting to its demographic decline, Europe gives more elbow
room to the United States. For all that, it could offer poor countries the alternative
solution of partnership -- if it had not let itself get caught in a trap.
d) It's about time that Europe and the Third World
recalled the aphorism attributed to Disraeli: "The British Empire has no permanent
enemies, nor permanent friends. It has only permanent
interests."
______________________________________________
1This concern, "Prevent the Re-emergence of a New
Rival," appears in a memorandum of 46 pages prepared by the office of the Secretary
of Defense. It was published by the New York Times (March 8, 1992) and reported by
Barton Gellman in the Washington Post (March 11, 1992) under the title
"Keeping the U.S. First. Pentagon would Preclude a Rival Superpower."
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