Active aging policy and associative democracy in Denmark: A critique of the 'Neoliberal' critique

TY - ABST

T1 - Active aging policy and associative democracy in Denmark

T2 - The 2018 Annual Conference of the International Sociology of Sport Association

AU - Evans, Adam Brian

AU - Nistrup, Anne

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 220

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - ‘Active Aging’ has become a dominant, if discontinuous, discourse in the provision of sport and physical activity (PA) for older adults. Active aging policies and programmes generally shift focus away from an economy of treatment and a narrative of decline in later life. Instead, they advocate the promotion and adoption of a positive mindset and ‘good’ lifestyle choices as ways to age ‘successfully’, including participation in sport, exercise and PA. Moreover, active aging policies are frequently associated with ‘neoliberal’ tendencies, including the responsibilisation of older individuals to maintain their own health. The sociocultural determinants of inequality in later life are largely overlooked. Nevertheless, active aging policies and programmes have been interpreted and adapted in multiple ways, such that defining active aging policy is increasingly challenging. By referring to recent changes in Civic policy in Copenhagen, Denmark, we argue that the tendency to equate active aging policy with a totalizing concept of ‘Neoliberalism’ can obscure interpretational nuance. We thematically analysed 14 regional and Civic policy documents focusing upon the introduction of ‘Activity Centres’ in Copenhagen Municipality. Rather than reducing adoption of active lifestyles in later life to individual responsibility and consumer logic, results suggest Danish Associative democracy, previously connected with ‘Third Way’ politics, facilitates community-oriented interpretations of active aging. Here, a balance of rights and responsibilities, shared-ownership and volunteerism are advocated, together with ‘meaningfulness’ of activity. Conversely, the conceptualization of a distinct (65+, White-Danish) ‘elderly’ community can neglect diversity, reduce cross-generational cooperation and limit the ‘preventative’ potential of active aging programmes.

AB - ‘Active Aging’ has become a dominant, if discontinuous, discourse in the provision of sport and physical activity (PA) for older adults. Active aging policies and programmes generally shift focus away from an economy of treatment and a narrative of decline in later life. Instead, they advocate the promotion and adoption of a positive mindset and ‘good’ lifestyle choices as ways to age ‘successfully’, including participation in sport, exercise and PA. Moreover, active aging policies are frequently associated with ‘neoliberal’ tendencies, including the responsibilisation of older individuals to maintain their own health. The sociocultural determinants of inequality in later life are largely overlooked. Nevertheless, active aging policies and programmes have been interpreted and adapted in multiple ways, such that defining active aging policy is increasingly challenging. By referring to recent changes in Civic policy in Copenhagen, Denmark, we argue that the tendency to equate active aging policy with a totalizing concept of ‘Neoliberalism’ can obscure interpretational nuance. We thematically analysed 14 regional and Civic policy documents focusing upon the introduction of ‘Activity Centres’ in Copenhagen Municipality. Rather than reducing adoption of active lifestyles in later life to individual responsibility and consumer logic, results suggest Danish Associative democracy, previously connected with ‘Third Way’ politics, facilitates community-oriented interpretations of active aging. Here, a balance of rights and responsibilities, shared-ownership and volunteerism are advocated, together with ‘meaningfulness’ of activity. Conversely, the conceptualization of a distinct (65+, White-Danish) ‘elderly’ community can neglect diversity, reduce cross-generational cooperation and limit the ‘preventative’ potential of active aging programmes.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

SP - 61

Y2 - 5 June 2018 through 8 June 2018

ER -