Translocal Ageing in the Global East

‘Translocal Ageing in the Global East is an impressive mix of theory, ethnography, and policy critique. The book is about the everyday lives of Bulgaria’s “greatest generation”—children of the inter-war and World War II periods—who managed to adjust and thrive through five decades of state socialism. Iossifova is not only a talented researcher, but also a brilliant writer with a strong inclination for investigative journalism. Her urban and architectural expertise allows additional insights into how physical space can be reformed to at least partially alleviate the severe hardships that characterize the lives of Bulgaria’s elderly. This is an important book on an important topic: how to allow the world’s growing aging population to live with dignity.’—Sonia A. Hirt, Hughes Professor in Landscape Architecture and Planning, University of Georgia‘Iossifova offers an evocative and authoritative analysis of the everyday experience of ageing in the “global east” country of Bulgaria. Challenging “western” concepts such as ageing in place and highlighting the resilience and adaptive capacities of older people for whom change has been the one constant in their lives, it is a must-read for all researchers and students interested in the social dimensions of ageing.’—Tim Schwanen, Professor of Transport Studies and Geography, TSU Director, University of Oxford ‘This book draws on the lifecourse stories of older people living in Bulgaria’s rapidly growing capital city and depopulating countryside. Iossifova goes beyond urban-rural comparisons, tracing the role of household practices, state policies, and economic hardship in these translocal geographies of ageing. With clarity and empathy, the book examines how political and economic turmoil transformed a generation’s expectations and experiences of older age. It represents an excellent resource not only for readers interested in ageing, but for those looking to learn about contemporary Bulgarian society more broadly.’—Dr Anna Plyushteva, School of Geography and the Environment, University of OxfordDr Deljana Iossifova is Senior Lecturer in Urban Studies at the University of Manchester and Chair of the Urban Studies Foundation.