The European Legacy

Demographic Transitions: Aging Europe and Its Future

Call for Papers: Special Issue

"Demographic Transitions: Aging Europe and Its Future"

The European Legacy: Toward New Paradigms

The European Legacy invites contributions for a special issue on the profound demographic transformation resulting from Europe’s aging populations and declining birth rates. The aim of this issue is to examine the political, social, economic, and cultural impacts and implications of these demographic shifts.

Context and Rationale

Europe faces an unprecedented demographic transformation that threatens its social and economic foundations. With fertility rates averaging roughly 1.5 children per woman—well below the 2.1 replacement level—the continent confronts what demographers call a "silver tsunami." By 2050, the EU's working-age population will shrink by 50 million while those over 65 increase by 58 million, creating unsustainable dependency ratios. This crisis has sparked fierce political debates: while Macron calls for "demographic rearmament" through family policies, Orbán pursues nationalist pro-natalist measures with immigration restrictions, and Scholz advocates managed immigration for economic survival—positions directly opposed by parties like Alternative for Germany. Recent studies by the Vienna Institute of Demography warn of "demographic suicide," while the European Commission's 2024 report terms this an "existential challenge." The question is no longer whether Europe will face demographic transformation, but whether European democracy and welfare systems can survive the transition intact.

These demographic realities intersect with questions of immigration, identity, and the sustainability of European welfare systems. Building on previous discussions of immigration and European identity, this special issue seeks to deepen our understanding of how demographic changes are reshaping European societies and their futures.

Thematic Focus

We welcome original research articles, theoretical analyses, and case studies that address one or more of the following interconnected themes:

Welfare Systems and Intergenerational Justice

• Critical assessments of European welfare models in the context of demographic aging
• Philosophical and ethical perspectives on intergenerational justice and resource allocation
• Comparative analyses of pension reforms and healthcare adaptations across Europe
• Social policy responses to demographic challenges
• The history and evolution of European welfare systems and their adaptive capacities

Perceptions of Cultural Difference

• Changing attitudes toward immigration as a response to demographic decline
• How aging populations influence perceptions of cultural difference and integration
• Philosophical examinations of alterity and belonging in societies undergoing demographic shifts
• Media representations of demographic changes and their impact on public discourse
• Intersections between aging, migration, and concepts of national and European identity

Family Structures and Social Cohesion

• Transformations in family structures and their social implications
• The family as a recurring theme in European philosophical and social thought
• Policy approaches to supporting families and fertility
• Changing concepts of care, kinship, and intergenerational relationships
• Gender, demographic changes, and family policy

National Variants and Cultural Specificity

• Comparative studies of demographic transitions across different European regions
• Culture-based conceptions of family, selfhood, otherness, and nationality
• Regional and national responses to demographic challenges
• Historical legacies shaping contemporary demographic patterns
• Rural-urban divides in demographic trajectories and their implications

Philosophical and Cultural Reflections

• Reconceptualizing time, generational succession, and historical continuity
• European intellectual traditions and their resources for thinking through demographic change
• Artistic and literary responses to aging societies
• Religious and secular perspectives on demographic transitions 
• The future of the European cultural heritage in demographically transformed societies

Interdisciplinary Approach

This special issue encourages interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge demography, philosophy, history, sociology, political science, cultural studies, and related fields. We particularly welcome contributions that combine empirical research with theoretical reflection, and those that consider the long-term historical and cultural dimensions of demographic change alongside contemporary policy challenges.