MOBILISING THE POTENTIAL OF ACTIVE AGEING IN EUROPE

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An exploratory study of uses of ‘urban security’ and ‘urban safety’ in international urban studies literature

Publication . Tulumello, Simone; Falanga, Roberto

The article explores systematically, albeit preliminarily, the way the concepts of security and safety are employed in scholarly urban studies literature about crime (and the prevention of it). It employs network analysis on author keywords, complemented with text analysis of abstracts, over sets of bibliographic information retrieved from Web of Science. Using a critical interpretative analysis of findings, and looking at the geography of main scholarly communities in this field, the article highlights differences (especially at the operational level) and commonalities (especially at the conceptual level) in the way scholars understand urban security and urban safety. Concluding that this field of study is dominated by operational, evidence-based approaches, the article advocates for a renewed critical engagement of scholarship in this field, through studies that would shift their attention from technical ‘solutions’ to the ‘problems’ that lead societies to demand security/safety.

2015Journal article

Open access

The Participation of Senior Citizens in Policy-Making: Patterning Initiatives in Europe

Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Cebulla, Andreas; Principi, Andrea; Socci, Marco

Worldwide, active aging policy calls for greater participation of senior citizens in the social, economic, and political realms. Despite emerging evidence of initiatives engaging senior citizens in social activities, little is known about the use of participatory approaches in the design and/or implementation of policies that matter to older citizens. This article identifies initiatives facilitating the civic participation of older people in policy-making in European Union member and associate states, drawing on a review of the literature, consultation of national policy experts, and exemplary case studies. Four main patterns of senior civic participation are identified: adopting consultative or co-decisional participatory approaches in policy design or policy implementation. The four are represented to varying degrees at different geographical levels (national, regional, local), with different actor configurations (appointed, elected/nominated, corporate representation), and with varying degree of institutionalization (temporary/permanent). Case studies illustrate approaches taken to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services for senior citizens. Future research should strengthen this line of enquiry to cast further light on conditions facilitating the civic participation of senior citizens.

2020Journal article

Open access

Promoting the Participation of Seniors in Policy-Making

Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Moreira, Amílcar

2016Other

Open access