Scientific Article
UDC 316.3(510)
DOI: 10.3792/3033-6015-2026-1-43-49
THE INSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION OF CHINA’S ELDERLY
SOCIAL PARTICIPATION POLICIES: A HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONALISM PERSPECTIVE
Tongalga Bao – PhD candidate, Sociology and Social Work Department, National University of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). ORCID: 0009-0004-6037-3391.
Otgonbayar Yadamjav – Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Work, National University of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). ORCID: 0000-0001-7297-2288. E-mail: otgonbayar_ya@num.edu.mn.
This study, using historical institutionalism as its research perspective, traces the changes in Chinaʼs policies on social participation of the elderly from 1982 to 2025. It constructs a three-dimensional analytical framework – institutional context, institutional structure, and institutional practice – to examine how policies have developed in response to demographic aging and social change. The findings show that policy evolution has gone through four major stages: institutional initiation, path continuation, critical transition, and institutional reproduction. Over time, governance has gradually shifted from a state-led model to a collaborative system involving communities, organizations, and individuals. The study concludes that while China’s institutional framework for active ageing has become more inclusive, challenges remain in policy adaptability, social participation mechanisms, and regional balance. Future reforms should strengthen legal foundations, expand participation channels, and promote sustainable engagement among older adults.
Keywords: social participation of the elderly, historical institutionalism, policy evolution, active ageing, institutional analysis.
INSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION OF CHINA’S ELDERLY
SOCIAL PARTICIPATION POLICIES:
A HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONALISM PERSPECTIVE
This study, based on historical institutionalism, traces changes in China’s policies on social participation of the elderly from 1982 to 2025. It uses a three-dimensional analytical framework – institutional context, institutional structure, and institutional practice – to examine how policies have developed in response to demographic aging and social change. The findings show that policy evolution has gone through four major stages: institutional initiation, path continuation, critical transition, and institutional reproduction. Over time, governance has gradually shifted from a state-led model to a collaborative system involving communities, organizations, and individuals. The study concludes that while China’s institutional framework for active ageing has become more inclusive, challenges remain in policy adaptability, social participation mechanisms, and regional balance. Future reforms should strengthen legal foundations, expand participation channels, and promote sustainable engagement among older adults.
Keywords: social participation of the elderly, historical institutionalism, policy evolution, active ageing, institutional analysis.
For citation: Tongalga B., Otgonbayar Ya. The Institutional Evolution of China’s Elderly Social Participation Policies: а Historical Institutionalism Perspective // Eastern Azimuth: Economics, Sociology, Ethnology. – 2026. – No. 1(4). – Pp. 43–49. DOI: 10.3792/3033-6015-2026-1-43-49
