A pathway to authoritarianism?: The real problem with geriatric politicians

In early 2023, Yusuke Narita, a Yale University economist, sparked outrage when he provocatively suggested that Japan’s elderly should “commit mass suicide” to make room for younger generations in top societal positions. While he later clarified that his remarks were meant to be metaphorical, the controversy struck a nerve in a world grappling with the consequences of an ageing power structure – gerontocracy.

As more nations face ageing populations, striking the balance between experience and the need for fresh ideas becomes difficult. Across the world, power remains tightly held by older individuals, even as younger generations are asked to contend with rapidly changing social, economic, and technological realities.

It has to be said even if it sounds callous – the result is a future shaped by those who may not live to see its consequences. Nowhere is this more evident than in the political sphere, where debates over gerontocracy take centre stage.

Narita’s frustration over the grip of the old on leadership is not an isolated critique – it is a symptom of a global dilemma. In recent years, concerns over the age of political leadership have intensified, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race in the US.

Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump faced intense...

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