Philip Cohen, Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland, will deliver our final seminar of Michaelmas Term on Thursday, 13th November, 2:00-3:30 pm, in the Butler Room at Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
His talk is titled Authoritarian Pronatalism and the Pyrrhic Defeat.
Abstract
Drawing on his own research, Philip explores how strongman national leaders—from Mussolini to MAGA—have used pronatalism to energize their political movements, invoking traditional family structures and nostalgia for patriarchal norms. Philips critiques that although such policies have sometimes produced short-term effects, they have consistently failed to reverse long-term fertility decline. Why, then, do these strategies persist? In his analysis, Philip applies Pyrrhic Defeat Theory—originating in criminology and the study of the “war on crime,” which describes how elites can benefit from policy failures—to understand this recurring pattern. He argues that today’s authoritarian leaders exploit widespread anxieties about declining birth rates and “Great Replacement” fears surrounding immigration, using pronatalism to serve political ends even when the policies themselves fail.
About the speaker
Philip Cohen is a Professor of Sociology and a Demographer at the University of Maryland, College Park, where his research and teaching concern families and inequality. He writes about demographic trends, family structure, the division of labor, health disparities, as well as open science and related topics. His commentary on subjects ranging from race and gender inequality to parenting, poverty, and popular culture has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the New Republic. The results of Philip's research have been widely reported in major media, and he often comments on new research or trends in the news.
Disclaimer: The views described here reflect the author’s academic interpretation and analysis. They do not represent the views or positions of LCDS or the University of Oxford.