Cultural History for a Changing World

Lišková, K., Ignaciuk A. 2026. ‘Population and Reproduction: Research Vistas from Europe’s Peripheries’. In Cultural History for a Changing World, edited by Hung J., and Ruberg W., 1st ed, 169–86. Cultural History and Historical Culture Series. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. (January 22, 2026).

The chapter ‘Population and Reproduction: Research Vistas from Europe’s Peripheries’ explores the cultural history of population and reproduction in 20th century Europe, with a focus on comparative studies of peripheral regions. It traces the evolution of scholarship from single-country studies to multi-country comparisons, highlighting how this approach reveals unexpected similarities across ideological divides and differences between seemingly alike societies.
Two case studies illustrate the value of comparative and transnational perspectives. The first examines family planning initiatives in Poland and Spain under different non-democratic regimes, revealing how international organizations and grassroots medical efforts shaped contraceptive policies and practices in the context of contrasting political ideologies. The second case study compares efforts to reduce infant mortality in four socialist countries, demonstrating how medical knowledge circulated across the Iron Curtain even during periods of political isolation.
By centering marginalized locales and experiences, this comparative approach challenges preconceived notions about rigid societal divisions and illuminates the complex interplay between private reproductive choices and public policies. The chapter argues that such comparative cultural histories offer valuable insights into how gender, class, and social structures have been shaped over time, providing a more nuanced understanding of the past and its implications for the future.