Editor's Note: In the coming year, RANE will analyze the implications of shifting demographic trends around the world. This series will be published periodically throughout the remainder of 2026; you can find all parts here . "The real strength of a nation lies in its workers, its thinkers, its fighters, and its mothers." — Halford Mackinder, "Man-Power as a Measure of National and Imperial Strength," National Review (1905) Demographics has long been a core component of geopolitical study and the source of much debate. One influential instance is Thomas Malthus' assessment in the late 18th century that population growth would outstrip food and other resource availability, which has significantly impacted political and ecological theories and policies, as well as popular culture perceptions of apocalyptic futures, often tainted with fear of nuclear war.