Zero Population Growth, Hope for Future Generations?

Thesis statement: Disproportionate population growth in lesser developed countries will require changes in U.S. Army defense doctrine, force structure, and training strategies by the year 2000. 2. Discussion: The current trend of negative population growth in the industrialized nations versus the extremely high positive population growth in lesser developed Third World countries will have an ever increasing impact on the political, socio-economic, and military status of the United states and other western industrialized nations. As the disparity grows there will be an ever increasing probability of a major, low intensity conflict involving the United states and one or more Third World countries. 3. Conclusion: Zero and negative population growth have been a statistical fact since the 19605. Current demographic studies indicate that the birth disparity will continue well into the 21st century even if the United states and other western nations immediately began to achieve the minimum standard of 2.4 children per woman. The population factor in Third World lesser developed countries makes low intensity conflicts inevitable, which will most certainly have a significant impact on the manner in which the United states conducts war. 4. Recommendation: The United states must immediately develop strategic, operational, and tactical doctrines for the management of Low Intensity Conflicts to include the employment of armed forces if necessary.