Directly engaging in debates over the nature and experience of the state, Millar argues that these are not static but change as the subjects age. To substantiate this argument, Millar befriends the reader with John, a man who came to Finland 30 years ago from Sierra Leone but has failed to obtain citizenship, yet. When John retires, the interaction with the state changes significantly from distrust and distance to more supportive and cooperative. Millar’s article opens up a novel perspective for anthropological inquiry of the state suggesting that ageing is an important perspective to be taken into consideration when analysing the state.
Millar, Stefan. 2026. ‘The Chief of Lähiö: Retirement and Ageing States in Helsinki, Finland’. Anthropology & Aging 47 (1): 21–35. doi:10.5195/aa.2026.588.