Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

“Globalization and aging are two sides of the same coin,” a 2012 Atlantic piece asserted. Aging populations are an urgent consideration for governments and globalized industries. It is estimated that by 2050, nearly a quarter of most regions of the world will be over the age of 60. The median age in the European Union is estimated to increase from 38 to 52 million by 2050; Poland is a prime case study of a population that is both aging and declining. This focused discussion aims to generate dialogue on the intersection of aging and globalization from a variety of perspectives and regions and present on current aging studies. The dialogue will address major themes of the conference, with an emphasis on the trajectories of modernization, challenges and opportunities related to new migration patterns, and aging as a global crisis.