In this course, you will deepen your understanding of the socioeconomic challenges that arise when more people live longer. You will study how ageing affects legislation, legal systems, resource distribution and access to rights. With the help of political theories and analytical tools, you will explore how older people’s living conditions are shaped by political decisions and how these decisions are made in practice.
Understand decision making and how policy takes shape
You will gain a deeper insight into how political processes work, which actors influence decisions and how interest groups and institutions shape ageing policy. You will study political developments concerning older adults and how ageing has become increasingly politicised.
The course also gives you the opportunity to analyse how policies influence society, and what consequences they have for social justice, sustainability and human rights.
Ageing, inequality and sustainability in a long term perspective
You will work with issues related to inequality among older people and how social, economic and political exclusion emerges. You will study long term changes across Europe and globally, including trends in working life, migration, gender relations, digitalisation, climate change, political conflict and international relations—and analyse how these developments affect older adults.
Particular focus is placed on how societies try to manage sustainability in a time of demographic ageing, and how welfare systems are challenged by an ageing population.
Skills you develop during the course
You will learn to describe and analyse the challenges that population ageing poses for society, legal systems and political processes. You will develop your ability to understand and evaluate policy making, and to connect political decisions to questions of human rights, social justice and sustainable welfare.
You will also practise discussing political issues in a structured and reflective way, and learn to identify connections between social change, ageing and broader societal developments.
Course content
The course covers political theories used to analyse ageing policy, and how these theories function in practice. You will study political decision making processes, interest groups, institutions and the historical development of rights for older people.
You will also investigate legal challenges that arise in ageing societies, and discuss barriers to human rights, legal protection and sustainable welfare systems. In addition, the course explores why ageing policies differ across time periods and welfare states.
Teaching and learning activities
Teaching consists of lectures, seminars, workshops and group work. Students are also expected to complete independent study.
The language of instruction and examination is English.