Politics of Old Age Older People's Interest Organisations and Collective Ac

  
An important aspect within this politics is the manner in which older people and their representative groups are given the opportunity to articulate their interests. The politics of old age: older people's interest organisations and collective action in Ireland situates this discussion in the international context and outlines the findings of an Irish case study which explores the evolution of older people's organisations in Ireland from their inception in the mid-1990s to the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Th represents an important contribution to the relatively sparse academic literature addressing the relationship between ageing, politics and representation. Synthetizing key theoretical writings in political science, critical gerontology and cultural sociology th reveals how ideological constructions of representation, welfare entitlements and the meaning of'old age' remain important variables of a dynamic political environment which contextualizes and influences how older people's interest organisations function.

Th provides an insight into the complexity of older people's representation and how the power the organisations exercise, their legitimacy and existence remain highly contingent on government policy design, political opportunity structures and the prevailing cultural and socioeconomic milieu. Th is essential reading for policymakers and organisations interested in ageing, policy and the political process and for students of ageing, social policy and political sociology.