There is an argument that a discipline does not exist until it has formal associations and institutions. The first formal associations and institutions in the field of population studies date from the 1920s. While the history of the discipline itself lies further back in academic studies in Europe, the history of the discipline’s associations lies mainly in the United States and the initial driving forces were philanthropists and advocates rather than scientists. Because of these initial driving forces, from the beginning, population associations were faced with the question of whether or not the association should take a formal position on political or social issues relating to population. Through this lens of science or advocacy, the paper examines the history of the two oldest population associations, the Population Association of America and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population.
Professor Peter McDonald is Director of the Australian Demographic & Social Research Institute.