Theories, concepts and empirical data can travel between different linguistic and societal spheres. How theories of space enrich ageing and how, in turn, the analyses of the space of ageing can contribute to the questions of general sociology, has been approached from different angles in France and in Germany in the past.
The SPAGE project proposes a systematic theoretical comparison of the interplay between age, space, and social exclusion in France and Germany, resulting in a comprehensive theoretical framework (objective 1). In a second step, we will empirically test the framework for potential societal differences and similarities between the two countries, aiming to use their synergy effect (objective 2) in order to create a sustainable research network based on new theoretical approaches and epistemological pathways between Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and the Université de Grenoble Alpes (objective 3).
Related to these three objectives, we start a French-German conceptual dialogue aimed at facilitating the exchange of theories, concepts and epistemological pathways used in French and German research on age, space, and social exclusion. On that basis, we formulate a joint framework. Here, a systematic empirical comparison of the interplay between age, space, and social exclusion in France and Germany leads to a specification of the framework. This second objective is twofold: as a first step, we will compare ongoing research carried out in both countries. SPAGE wants to challenge the dominant representations of age, such as “age-friendliness", “active ageing" or “healthy ageing". By creating a research network on age, space and exclusion through the link between the original research team of both principal investigators, SPAGE would bring forward the multiplicity of age-diversity and age practices (older adults with a disability or mobility restrictions/age and gender/age and lifespan/ migratory experiences/etc.) in the 'doing' of space.
