Reception and Impact on Malthus’ Ideas on Population

Abstract

This article analyzes several elements of the work of Thomas Malthus on the population, particularly as regards the reception of his theory and political position. It summarizes the political, ideological and scientific criticisms he received and examines issues that have hitherto not been dealt with by other commentators, such as the exceptions admitted by Malthus regarding the role of feudal social relations in the agriculture of Poland and Russia. The author suggests that although his theory tended to reinforce the harsh social and sexual repression that existed at the time, Malthus was not supported by the British bourgeoisie (as opposed to what Marx thought). He also suggests that Malthus failed to grasp the extent of the advances in agriculture and refutes Donald Winch’s theory that he was a leftist liberal in politics, since although he can be considered progressive in some respects, in other essential aspects he is an extremely repressive, proto-fascist conservative, and even a forerunner of the theory of coups d’état.