Final answer:
The key weakness in the theory of demographic transition is the assumption that all countries can sustain the population growth resulting from industrialization without overwhelming environmental and resource capacity, alongside the theory's oversight of cultural and socio-economic factors influencing birth rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
One weakness of the theory of demographic transition developed by scholars such as Warren S. Thompson and Frank W. Notestein is that it may not adequately take into account the planet's capacity to support the consequent population surge and increased demand on resources. The theory suggests that as societies industrialize, they will pass through several stages, starting with high birth and death rates and moving towards lower birth and death rates, with a period of population explosion in between. However, if every country were to follow this pattern, the accumulated population pressure might lead to intense competition for resources, potentially exacerbating global challenges such as environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social strife.
The theory's expectation that all countries can smoothly transition through these stages may also ignore cultural and socio-economic realities that affect birth rates and family sizes. For instance, in some cultures, large families are the norm, and high birth rates persist despite economic changes, often due to gender inequality and restricted reproductive rights for women. The assumption that industrialization and economic development will inevitably lead to demographic transition overlooks these complexities and the potential for varied outcomes in different societal contexts.