Chad aims to co-opt rebels to reduce their threat

Significance The government’s attention is now shifting to rebels. The authorities face threats from multiple sides -- rebel groups, Boko Haram, the turmoil in the Central African Republic and the transition in Sudan -- and placating at least some rebels would help the ruling Military Transition Council (CMT) to narrow its list of concerns. Impacts Further rebel incursions would swiftly draw the attention of France, which has intervened multiple times on behalf of Chadian governments. The authorities are likely to set a date for the inclusive national dialogue soon, especially if they can secure some rebel participation. The national dialogue will symbolise confidence in the transition, but not substantive unity.

Leave no one behind? Transitioning from the military to civilian life in New Zealand

Transition from the military environment into a civilian environment is a topic that has seen increasing attention within the last two decades. There is, in the literature, a clearly articulated issue that transition from the military to the civilian world is somewhat different to transitioning from school to work, or from career to career, or from work to retirement. Many, but not all, of the extant examples regarding military transition are case studies, focus groups or small-scale qualitative surveys. The following article details a large-scale survey that took place in New Zealand in 2019. From just over 1400 responses, a wide range of information was gathered. The aim of the survey was to uncover the experiences of military who had undergone transition within New Zealand. In this respect, the survey was exploratory. We report here the qualitative results that expand the existing body of knowledge of military transition. Our results are in line with international results and demonstrate that a large majority of respondents had a less than desirable transition experience. The contribution made therefore is a reinforcement that current practice in this area is needing a great deal of attention. The following outlines the experiences our New Zealand-based respondents had and how this mirrors the extant international literature. As this was the first survey of its kind to attract large numbers of respondents within New Zealand, the results and discussion that follow present aspects of transition that the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force may wish to consider when planning future transition programmes.

Chad's new military leaders are gathering support

Significance The Military Transition Council (CMT), which took power after the death of President Idriss Deby on April 20, is gaining greater tacit support from African and other international leaders as it faces significant but not overwhelming opposition at home. Impacts Deby's son Mahamat will aim to keep most regional troop deployments in place to maintain goodwill with neighbours and international backers. If the transitional authorities avoid sanctions, they could draw on a four-year USD560mn loan agreed with the IMF in January. Rumours that eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar was involved in the rebellion may keep ties with Libya tense.

Concept of Military Identity in Modern Sociology

The article presents the main characteristics of the military identity, examines theoretical approaches to the study of the problem of military/post-military transition. Military identity is the result of the social identification of the actor with the army/military groups due to the internalization of values and norms adopted in the army/military field. The peculiarities of two military transition – transition from civilian life to the military field (after mobilization or voluntary membership in the armed forces) and transition from military to civilian field (after demobilization or dismissal for health reasons) are revealed. If the first transition involves the formation of a military identity, then the second transition is correlated with the phenomenon of postmilitary identity. If high levels of military identity can interfere with social reintegration during the second transition (transition from military to civilian life), then in the case of the first transition (transition from civil life to army life), they can contribute to the successful adaptation of the recruit for life in the army. The post-army period of social reintegration of veterans can be complicated by the contrast between the way of life of the military (with its culture of obedience, discipline, command spirit) and civilians (who value independence, personal autonomy and self-determination). As a result, there may be a conflict between the military and civil identities of the social actor, negatively affecting his/her social existence.

Advancing an understanding of selves in transition: I-positions as an analytical tool

Self-identity work appears to be a challenge for many service members as they transition and reintegrate into civilian life. When other cultural influences seem to threaten an established self as it labors with transition, tension and conflict may arise and can potentially impact mental health. Insights from an ongoing longitudinal project on the subject matter indicate that an analysis of an individual, which utilizes the concept of I-positions may serve as a useful analytical tool during these processes. A longitudinal methodology combining a narrative approach with such an exploration of I-positions derived from a dialogical self framework may prove to be a promising avenue to advance the understanding of selves in transition beyond the dichotomy of the military and civilian spheres. The bridging capacity of I-positions lies partly in the capacity of significant others to link the self to both spheres and to help fill the perceived void between these two realms, which in reality may be overlapping and intertwined. The findings suggest, facilitated by two case study examples, that military transition to civilian life may benefit from a dialogical approach. This dialogical mind-set could even already be introduced and established during basic training. However, there is also a shared responsibility for individuals in civilian contexts to invite former service members into open dialogue just as the service members themselves shall strive to initiate earnest dialogue. Future research is encouraged to widen the methodology and knowledge of selves in transition.