The Planet Cannot Hold the Weight of 8.2 billion Narratives. Here’s Why…

March 23rd, 2025
By Michael Bayliss
narrative, population, systems change

As ecosystems collapse and wealth inequality deepens, the impact of overpopulation on the natural world is well-documented—but its effects on democracy, social cohesion, and psychological well-being remain largely unexplored. This essay examines how our bloated, hyper-complex societies have outgrown their ability to meet individual needs, leading to a breakdown in political and social structures.
With 8.2 billion people navigating an increasingly fragmented world, collective narratives have spiralled out of control, fuelled by social media echo chambers and misinformation. The cognitive limits of human connection, as explored by thinkers like Yuval Noah Harari and Jared Diamond, suggest that civilizations struggle to function beyond a certain scale. The modern world has temporarily bridged this gap through technology and propaganda, yet this has only accelerated economic disparity, political disillusionment, and environmental destruction.
As economic instability mounts and the middle class erodes, societies risk turning to simplistic, authoritarian solutions—historically a precursor to fascism and oligarchy. However, the answer lies not in reactionary politics but in systemic change: planned degrowth to scale back unsustainable economies, rewilding to restore ecological balance, and global family planning to address overpopulation in a humane and equitable way.
Ultimately, escaping our current dystopian trajectory requires dismantling our self-absorbed narratives and re-establishing a connection with the natural world. The more of us there are, the harder this becomes—making population sustainability not just an environmental necessity, but a psychological and human rights imperative.