Ex‑Leaders: From Siren to Symbol

Peter Just’s taxonomy divides a retired leader’s influence into 'siren' years (active interventions on policy and crises) and 'symbol' years (presence and endorsements doing the work). It reframes post-office roles as a predictable lifecycle rather than ad hoc punditry. Applied to today, it helps parse how ex-presidents and prime ministers wield soft power without formal authority. — A common lifecycle for ex‑leaders clarifies how democracies are shaped by unelected elder statespeople and informs media, party strategy, and institutional norms.