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International Encyclopedia of Civil Society pp 1–8Cite as

Civil Society and the Elderly

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Definition

Increasing life expectancy and low birth rates globally contribute to the elderly constituting an ever growing share of the population. Though the category of “the elderly” is generally determined by age, there is no common definition. In this entry, we focus on social groups that normally find themselves in the postoccupational phase. The elderly surely make their greatest contribution to society within the family by, for example, looking after their relatives. This entry, however, deals with the civic engagement of the elderly outside their families: activities in more formal organizations, networks, and initiatives of civil society. Such engagement tends to have a positive impact on the elderly participants and on civil society more broadly. The entry also reflects on civil society initiatives that attract the elderly as members, offer them services, and promote their interests. The civil engagement of people 65+ is growing worldwide, but their participation rates vary...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hochschule Neubrandenburg, University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg, Germany

    Kai Brauer

  2. Social Science Research Center, Berlin, Germany

    Jürgen Kocka

Authors
  1. Kai Brauer
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  2. Jürgen Kocka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kai Brauer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Regina A. List

  2. Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Helmut K. Anheier

  3. Schar school, George Mason University, ARLINGTON, VI, USA

    Stefan Toepler

Section Editor information

  1. Hamburg, Germany

    Regina A. List

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Brauer, K., Kocka, J. (2020). Civil Society and the Elderly. In: List, R., Anheier, H., Toepler, S. (eds) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99675-2_85-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99675-2_85-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99675-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99675-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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