Stories of transition: US Veterans’ narratives of transition to civilian life and the important role of identity

Introduction: To date, investigations of Veterans’ transition to civilian life after military service have tended to focus on the experiences of those with mental or physical health difficulties or on employment challenges and homelessness. This study aimed to gain a deep understanding of Veterans’ transition to civilian life, the challenges they face, and the adaptive and maladaptive ways in which they manage them. Methods: A narrative approach was used to afford the Veterans an opportunity to share their experiences through their transition story. Six male Veterans residing in the Chicagoland area who had left the military between 1 and 12 years earlier were interviewed using a narrative approach. Results: Narrative analysis led to the emergence of three master narratives: narratives of the challenges, narratives of readiness, and narratives of continued military values. The narratives the Veterans shared highlighted not only the importance of practical readiness for transition but also the need for a fundamental addition to how Veteran transition is considered that includes psychological considerations of the impact on identity and the potential for existential crisis. Discussion: Appraising transition only in terms of measurable factors such as employment, living conditions, and health likely overlooks those experiencing psychological challenges and sub-clinical mental health difficulties. The proposed fundamental addition has implications for work with Veterans in various health care settings and for existing transition programs, including a consideration of the role of identity

Exiting the political stage: exploring the impact on representative democracy.

Political exit is relatively under–researched. This paper examines the experiences of politicians leaving political office through different routes, the impact on individual politicians, their partners and family, and crucially examines the implications for representative democracy. The paper explores the experience of the transition from political office drawing on empirical research in which 41 interviews were conducted with politicians who had left office, either having been defeated or having chosen not to stand again, their partners, and with current politicians about their thinking on their own future exit from office. This paper then focuses on the wider implications of political exit. It argues that the conditions into which politicians are elected and the smoothness or otherwise with which they can leave office have wider implications for representative democracy. It argues that for a healthy, sustainable democracy, the route into and out of political office should be less problematic

The Phenomenon of Self-Change: Overview and Key Issues

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