Population, the state, and national grandeur

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In France, demography is uniquely regarded as a vital population science, prominently featured in education, media, and ideological debates. This national identity issue has roots in a political history that intensified during the Second World War under the Vichy regime and evolved post-Liberation with the establishment of population policies and the French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED). This work is the first to explore the controversial origins of this phenomenon and its long-term implications. It illustrates how theories, institutions, and demographic policies emerged concurrently in France, reflecting on the interplay between ideologies, science, and the state, which could serve as a model for understanding other scientific fields. Paul-André Rosental’s essential study investigates the rise of demography as an independent discipline linked to the state in mid-twentieth-century France. The discipline's success in the post-war era stemmed from its dual focus on "science" and "action," enabling policymakers to assert both knowledge and expertise in tackling social issues. Rosental’s nuanced argument provides a thought-provoking perspective for those engaged in the history of human sciences.