International experience of war veterans’ reintegration

Abstract

The article examines the international experience of war veterans’ reintegration as a comprehensive public policy framework that combines social guarantees, medical and psychosocial rehabilitation, education, employment, support for entrepreneurship, and family-oriented programmes. It is emphasized that leading states build specialized institutional models: from extensive systems of healthcare, education, and benefits in the United States to integrated schemes of professional readaptation and “civilian bridges” in EU countries, Canada, Israel, and France, where key elements include personalized support, interagency coordination, and the long-term responsibility of the state for wounded veterans and the families of the fallen. The article underlines that effective models combine universal social programmes with targeted services for veterans with disabilities, post-traumatic disorders, and complex family and economic circumstances, and are based on the principles of a “single window” approach, case management, public–private partnership, and the active involvement of veterans’ organizations. Special attention is devoted to approaches that recognize military experience as a resource for leadership, public service, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, thereby counteracting the marginalisation of veterans. It is demonstrated that for Ukraine, it is particularly relevant to adopt the systemic elements of these models: clear legal definition of veteran status, a continuous “service – demobilisation – reintegration” pathway, integrated e-services, family-centred programmes, and independent monitoring of service quality, while at the same time being critically aware of the risks of fragmentation, bureaucratisation, and a merely formal benefits-based approach that fails to ensure genuine socio-economic adaptation.