The Malthus Fraud Paperback

The defeat of the British government by American revolutionaries and the role of the laboring classes in overthrowing the French monarchy in the late 1700s inspired confidence among working people and fear among the elites, posing the need for an ideological counterattack. The Essay on Population was Malthus’s contribution to this battle of ideas. He argued that society’s ills are caused not by the greed-driven capitalist system, but by working people “overpopulating.” The fact that there is not a single historical example that supports his doctrine has had no effect on its continuing popularity among today’s propagandists for the status quo. This is because it never was a scientific theory, but a religious-political dogma, more akin to antisemitism and racism. It serves to divert us from carrying out the necessary revolutionary solutions to the problems we face.

“With power and clarity, Dees dismantles Malthus’s claims…. The Malthus Fraud is well-documented, sharply argued, and never dry despite its scholarly heft…. Brisk, blistering critique of Malthus and Malthusian ideology.” Publishers Weekly / BookLife Editor’s Pick

“Robert Dees provides a damning, eye-opening argument in The Malthus Fraud…. The result is of critical importance to historians, scholars, and student debate groups . . . thought-provoking, astute, and certainly controversial in its contentions—perfect fodder for classroom and history buff discussion groups.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

This booklet is an excerpt from The Power of Peasants: Economics and Politics of Farming in Medieval Germany, by Robert Dees.