A sociological exploration of how committed radicals age in social movements.
Based on interviews with seasoned activists and engaging with the scholarly literature in the fields of social movements, gerontology, and political sociology, Williams maps out the complexities of aging and participation in antiauthoritarian social movements. The result is a strategic intervention in social movement thought and action. Williams's survey of the research on the nature of youth and rebellion provides a solid foundation that challenges common misunderstandings about its prevalence and durability. Aging Rebels presents a balanced view of the role of elders in social movements, showing that multigenerational participation is more common than assumed and social constructions like age are more heavily weighted than need be.
While it's true the radicals and anarchists who tend to show up at events, meetings, rallies, conferences, or protests remain relatively young, this isn't the whole story. As the years go by, some older activists cheer from the sidelines, others change their beliefs entirely and drop out, and a few stay the course and participate with vigor. Scholarly yet written in a down-to-earth tone, Aging Rebels explains these patterns and how some older radicals are able to remain active in movements despite the challenges.