It is with great pride and purpose that we launch the Journal of Ageing in the Global South (JAGS). The need for this platform could not be more urgent. Across the Global South, societies are experiencing one of the most profound demographic shifts in history: fertility is declining, life expectancy is rising, and populations are ageing at a pace faster than many governments and communities are prepared for. Unlike high-income countries that entered this stage after reaching higher levels of wealth, nations of the Global South are ageing earlier, often without the economic buffers or robust welfare systems that their northern counterparts relied upon.

This demographic transition carries undeniable challenges: pressures on health systems, social protection gaps, shrinking labour markets, and growing needs for care and inclusion. Yet it also presents immense opportunities—what is increasingly recognised as the “silver economy.” Older persons are not merely passive recipients of care; they are active agents of social, cultural, and economic vitality. They bring wisdom, skills, and intergenerational value that enrich families, communities, and societies at large.

JAGS is dedicated to rethinking ageing in this light. We seek scholarship that goes beyond portraying older populations as a “burden” and instead explores the positive paradigms of ageing: active engagement, lifelong learning, flexible work, entrepreneurship, caregiving, and community leadership. We aim to highlight pathways toward healthy and active ageing, grounded in local realities but informed by global experiences. Our journal encourages contributions that examine not only the vulnerabilities of older persons but also their resilience, creativity, and role as contributors to inclusive societies.

The Global South requires policy frameworks that are forward-looking and adapted to its specific contexts. This is why JAGS places a premium on interdisciplinary research that bridges economics, demography, sociology, public health, and social policy. We are particularly eager to publish work that proposes actionable solutions—whether in pension design, urban planning, preventive healthcare, or technology for care—that can help policymakers and practitioners respond to ageing populations with innovation and foresight. Comparative studies, highlighting both South–South learning and North–South policy transfer, are also welcome, as they deepen our understanding of what works and why.

By amplifying voices from the Global South, JAGS aspires to enrich the global conversation on ageing. We believe that the experiences of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America—often overlooked in mainstream ageing research—hold vital lessons for the entire world. Through open access, rigorous peer review, and editorial collaboration, we are committed to ensuring that the knowledge generated here reaches wide audiences, from scholars and students to policymakers, practitioners, and international organisations.
The journey ahead is both challenging and inspiring. Ageing is no longer a marginal issue; it is central to the future of development, equity, and social cohesion. On behalf of the editorial team, I invite you—researchers, thinkers, and practitioners—to join us in this mission. Share your insights, your evidence, and your ideas. Together, let us transform the narrative on ageing in the Global South, advancing scholarship that not only diagnoses problems but also prescribes solutions for dignity, well-being, and active participation in later life.

 

Dr. Asghar Zaidi
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Ageing in the Global South