Older People in War: Establishing a New Research Field

Time period:

1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028

Project leader:

Johan Brosché

Project member:

Karina Shyrokykh, Anders Themnér

Funder:

Swedish Research Council

Type of award:

Project grant

Total funding:

5,046,000 SEK

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, we 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? To answer these questions, we synthesize insights from peace and conflict research and social gerontology, developing a novel analytical framework. We assess our propositions through quantitative analysis and ethnographic field research in Nepal, Syria, and Ukraine.