VR grant for project on older adults in warzones

Johan Brosché, Anders Themnér and Karina Shyrokykh at Stockholm University have been awarded a major research grant by Vetenskapsrådet (VR) to study how war affects older adults, who are among the most victimised groups.

The world is undergoing an unprecedented demographic shift. By 2050, the population aged 65 and older will more than double, posing major societal challenges to healthcare, economic growth and political representation of older people. Yet, one critical consequence remains overlooked: the changing demographics of war.

As the number of older people grows, so does their exposure to armed conflict. Evidence from Gaza, Mozambique, and Ukraine suggests that older adults are among the most victimized groups. These cases represent only a fraction of older people’s suffering in war, yet their experiences remain strikingly invisible in research. While scholars have explored how gender, race, and sexual orientation shape wartime risks, older people continue to be ignored. This neglect stems from ageism—one of the last socially accepted prejudices—rendering research on war overwhelmingly age-blind. This project bridges that gap by establishing a new research field: older people in war. Specifically, it will address two key questions: (a) under which conditions are older people most likely to be victimized, and (b) what survival strategies do older adults use to navigate conflict zones?

The project team will synthesise insights from peace and conflict research and social gerontology, developing a novel analytical framework. They will then assess their propositions through quantitative analysis and ethnographic field research in Nepal, Syria, and Ukraine.