Being old is not necessarily a disadvantage for a presidential candidate in the USA.
But when the entire political top layer is older than most of the population, as in the USA, it can become a threat to democracy, says political scientist Aksel Sundström at the University of Gothenburg.
Age is again in focus in the presidential election race in the USA. The debate against the 78-year-old Republican competitor and former President Donald Trump last week raised questions about the 81-year-old sitting President Joe Biden's abilities.
According to Aksel Sundström, associate professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg, a high age is not always a disadvantage for an American presidential candidate. It is not even a trend that American presidents and candidates are getting older.
I don't think it's bad. I think they can be just as vital and have a lot of experience, says Sundström.
Slow trend
He believes that the high age of politicians becomes a problem when many top politicians are older than most of the population, which is the case in the USA.
Congress is significantly older than it was a few decades ago, and the House of Representatives has become older over the past 40 years. It's a slow trend that has resulted in us today having a House of Representatives and a Senate that are significantly older than the voters.
The explanation for the aging of Congress is partly that it has become more expensive to run for election and partly that there is "terribly low rotation" among the elected.
Those who sit in their seats have a great advantage, and there is a high chance of being re-elected if you're already sitting, says Aksel Sundström.
Less justice
He says that it can't be said that it's generally bad with older politicians, but with an overrepresentation of old decision-makers, there is a risk that young voters don't feel represented.
I can show in my own research that when Americans assess the composition of parliaments, they are less likely to think that the decisions are fair and that the procedure is democratic if there are only older people.
Aksel Sundström says that the old politicians also make young people less likely to engage in politics.
With very old politicians, there is a risk that younger generations will become increasingly alienated. That's perhaps why many are so frustrated with the situation with Biden. The question many are asking is whether he will be able to enthuse those who tend not to vote.
