Age‐associations in British politics: Implications for the sociology of aging

• Published in: The British journal of sociology Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 609 - 626
• Main Author: Fletcher, James Rupert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-06-2021
• Subjects: Age; ageing; Aging; Analysis; Brexit; Debates; Gerontology; Intergenerational relationships; Political aspects; Politicization; Politics; Social aspects; Social research; Sociology; variable; vote; United Kingdom > UK; Brexit; variable; ageing; gerontology; vote
• ISSN: 0007-1315; 1468-4446
• DOI: 10.1111/1468-4446.12820

Debates regarding the status of age in social analysis are foundational to the sociology of aging, with scholars continually questioning the role of age as a social force. The contemporary politicization of age in British politics sheds useful light on this debate. During the past decade, age has emerged as a potent predictor of political preference in the United Kingdom, encompassing numerous intertwined political economic developments. At face value, the emergence of age as a key political variable substantiates the status of age in social analysis. However, I argue that it is articulations of age‐stratified politics, as much as the associations themselves, that should be of principle concern for the sociology of aging, because such articulations are reformulating age, aging and intergenerational relations. The sociology of aging should, therefore, engage with the contemporary politicization of age as a new answer to foundational debates.