Through the lens of public policies: the social construction of former combatants

Abstract

The end of the colonial war led to the implementation of public policies for former combatants, although the pace of progress was gradual. This contribution analyses the latest generation of these policies, at the turn of the millennium, with the objective of identifying their specificity through a bibliographical review and legislative analysis. The findings demonstrate that the Statute of Former Combatants encapsulates an integrated approach to support, encompassing both material and institutional assistance. This has played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of this particular social group. However, challenges persist in the implementation of intervention models, particularly in terms of ensuring the voices of the policy beneficiaries and other key stakeholders.