ABSTRACT
The relationship between demographic development and political response manifests itself in a number of ways and can thus be studied from various angles. The following discussion deals mainly with the impact of political decisions on demographic development in Middle Eastern countries during the twentieth century and looks at primarily two areas: (1) political intervention vis-a-vis fertility and natural increase, and (2) political decisions and actions regarding mass migratory movements. Focus is on direct political influence only, i.e., on those decisions governments take so as to instigate demographic change, with secondary effects left out of the discussion.
