Suchergebnisse

This article comments on the English Commission on the Voluntary Sector & Ageing, a voluntary sector-led initiative aimed at making proposals for voluntary sector leaders and charitable organisations on how to approach the ageing population. By examining the work of the commission, the review contributes to debates on the implications of population ageing for the voluntary sector.

This paper argues that the structured dependency thesis must be extended to incorporate political power. It outlines a political framework of analysis with which to identify who gains and who loses from social policy. I argue that public policy for older people is a product not only of social structures but also of political decision-making. The Schneider and Ingram (1993) ' target populations' model is used to investigate how the social construction of groups as dependent equates with lower levels of influence on policy making. In United Kingdom and European research, older people are identified as politically quiescent, but conversely in the United States seniors are viewed as one of the most influential and cohesive interest groups in the political culture. Why are American seniors perceived as politically powerful, while older people in Europe are viewed as dependent and politically weak? This paper applies the 'target populations' model to senior policy in the Republic of Ireland to investigate how theoretical work in the United States may be used to identify the significance of senior power in policy development. I conclude that research must recognise the connections between power, politics and social constructions to investigate how state policies can influence the likelihood that seniors will resist structured dependency using political means.

Under the same formal governmental arrange ments, characterized chiefly by nonpartisanship and decentrali zation, Los Angeles has known both good and bad municipal government. Undoubtedly, the decentralized politics together with the demographic and geographic diversity of the city have helped to keep Los Angeles from coming under the control of a political boss or a covert ruling elite. With abundant room to grow and a benign natural environment, Los Angeles has not suffered from the more obvious problems of urban density. One possible consequence of this is a low visibility for politics. Now, as the margin of safety against the problems of urban density diminishes, some observers doubt that the diffuse and decentralized politics and government are adequate to the problems facing the city. Proposals to change the charter in the direction of centralization and integration have not drawn impressive support. Informal integration of city politics through particular private groups, or even through a comeback of political parties, does not seem to be immediately forth coming. Probably until acutely pressed by obvious civic needs, Los Angeles' citizens will not consider her decentralized politics too great a price to pay for an unbossed and scandal-free city.

Under the same formal gov'al arrangements, characterized chiefly by nonpartisanship & decentralization, Los Angeles has known both good & bad municipal gov. Undoubtedly, the decentralized pot together with the demographic & geographic diversity of the city have helped to keep Los Angeles from coming under the control of a pol'al boss or a convert ruling elite. With abundant room to grow & a benign natural environment, Los Angeles has not suffered from the more obvious problems of Ur density. One possible consequence of this is a low visibility for poi. Now, as the margin of safety against the problems of Ur density diminishes, some observers doubt that the diffuse & decentralized pot & gov are adequate to the problems facing the city. Proposals to change the charter in the direction of centralization & integration have not drawn impressive support. Informal integration of city pot through particular private groups, or even through a comback of pol'al parties, does not seem to be immediately forthcoming. Probably until acutely pressed by obvious civic needs, Los Angeles' citizens will not consider her decentralized pot too great a price to pay for an unbossed & scandal-free city. AA.