Older people have been characterized by two mutually contradictory stereotypes. One the one hand they have been portrayed as a powerful lobby, growing demographically and able to demand large redistributions of the nation's income in their direction. On the other hand they have been typified as a marginalized group at high risk of poverty and exclusion and, in a political context, largely powerless. This book examines, using original research conducted by the Older People and Politics Project (OPPOL) within Exeter University's Sociology Department, the reality of the impact of the increasing number of older people on the British political process. The project had three main investigative concerns: how effective are pressure groups and lobbyists for older people?; how is the power and influence of older people perceived by older people themselves and the general public?; and how are politicians responding to older people and their needs? The study was conceived as an exercise in political sociology but draws broadly on ideas and information from the fields of social gerontology, demography, politics and social policy.
- ISBN10 0754617564
- ISBN13 9780754617563
- Publish Date 25 October 2001
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 30 July 2009
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Imprint Ashgate Publishing Limited
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 178
- Language English