The Future of US Demographics: In conversation with Justin Gest
How do societies respond to great demographic change? This question lingers over the contemporary politics of countries where persistent immigration has altered populations and may soon produce a “Majority Minority” milestone. Until now, most of our knowledge about responses to demographic change are based on studies of individual people’s reactions; they are defensive and intolerant. Why and how are these instincts sometimes tempered to promote more successful coexistence? Grounded in rich narratives and novel statistical data, George Mason University political scientist Justin Gest (MSc International Relations '06, PhD Government '10) reveals the way states and societies can navigate this contentious milestone and its accompanying identity politics.Justin Gest is an Associate Professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. He is the author of six books on the politics of immigration and demographic change. He co-founded and co-edits the Oxford University Press book series, “Oxford Studies in Migration and Citizenship” in 2020, and co-founded the Migration Studies Unit at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2007. He has provided reporting or commentary for ABC, BBC, CBC, CNN, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, NPR, The New York Times, Politico, Reuters, Vox, and The Washington Post. In 2014 and 2020, Professor Gest received Harvard University’s Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Teaching Prize and the George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award, respectively each university’s highest award for faculty teaching.
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