ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to the dominant paradigm through which debates around ageing and urbanisation have been conducted, that is, the idea, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), of age-friendly cities and communities. The chapter takes a critical perspective on the WHO model, analysing not only the gains but also the difficulties of implementing this approach given the economic, environmental, and social pressures facing cities in both the Global North and South. The chapter sets the WHO approach within the context of various policies on urban issues developed in the 1990s and 2000s. The evolution of the WHO model from the early 2000s is explored, together with the various factors influencing its implementation.
