ABSTRACT
Every day, almost every minute, associations are born, mature and survive against the odds or die. The universe of associations is in constant flux; associations come and go wandering through their life cycle in a comparable way to humans. In the associational world there are also periods with mortality rates higher than birth rates, and eras of population growth – more newborns than casualties. For humanity, the complex of age and aging can be assessed via three distinct concepts: (i) the notion of (biological) ageing, (ii) the life cycle and (iii) generations and generational exchange. These three concepts imply different ideas for the ageing process. More importantly, they also imply a different notion about the principal nature and the potential shifts in the population. The notion of (biological) aging suggests a process of continuous and gradual change of growth and decline. The notion of the life cycle, by contrast, implies the idea of several clearly demarcated eras, each of them bringing a bundle of particular responsibilities and demands which impact on an individuals’ way of life and thinking. Finally, the notion of (political) generations presents an idea of continuity and stability, with character and virtue being ‘formative’ at early moments in life.
