ПЕНСИОНЕРИТЕ, ЗАНИМАВАЛИ СЕ С АКТИВНА ПОЛИТИЧЕСКА ДЕЙНОСТ, И ОСТАРЯВАНЕТО
PENSIONERS WHICH WERE ONCE INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND AGEING (1990 -2009)

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to seek the answer to the question whether and how the occupation of political activity in any stage of life (professional and/or voluntary) affects the natural process of individual aging. The object of study – Bulgarian pensioners in the time span from 1990 to 2010. Transition is characterized by low fertility, high mortality, aging population and emigration of young people. It collected heap all negative demographic phenomena that threaten the socio-economic and biological existence of a nation. Demographic problems always entail a range of political ones - the emergence of ageism, gerontophoby. The state pension system in this period is in a crisis. The amount of pension in Bulgaria is among the lowest in Europe. This leads to crisis levels of poverty among older people. The situation of older people in developed countries contrasts sharply with that of Bulgarian pensioners. Among pensioners there are less poor than among any other social group. The largest political group of pensioners during the Bulgarian transition is that of former leading political figures from the totalitarian regime. Another large group of political pensioners is composed by active participants in political processes in the 30’s, 40’s and early 90’s of XX century. Almost all without exception were members of youth political organizations. Their interest in political processes is maintained after withdrawal from active work. This takes the form of NGO’s, interest clubs, celebrations organized. Unlike the majority of pensioners socio-economic situation of political veterans is better than average in the country. Political veterans can be extremely useful in the political organizational work. The myth of lack of energy and inadequacy of the old people should not be relative to that involved in political and public activity. Although we observed some exceptions, in general, occupation of public and political activity in any period of lifetime has a positive influence on the natural aging process, especially in its psychological dimensions. Retain an interest in politics kept longer memory, supports mind, tone, жизнелюбието, self-discipline, hygiene habits, social contacts, especially with younger generations.

• Details
• Contents