1. Theory of Political Leadership
UNU/ILA
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2. Leadership: a Generic Concept
Importance: In society and group activities we seek to avoid chaos and to feel a sense of belonging and purpose
Leadership emerges in the process of learning to relate to one another
These individuals are more involved, have certain values, have vision, and initiate change
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3. Evolving Definition
Our definition of leadership changes as we perceive and construct reality in new ways
Ancient societies: leaders = heroes, prophets, philosophers
Middle Ages: popes and kings
Machiavelli: clever and amoral “princes”
Early modern: rational-bureaucratic and authoritarian models of leaders
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4. Contemporary View
New leadership resulting from complex economic and social changes, globalization, and democratization
Leaders are judged on their effectiveness, style, service, cultural-sensitivity, adaptive-capacity, ethics, wisdom, participation, personal judgement
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5. Current Scholars Burns Wren Heifetz Rost Bass Ciulla
Kellerman Greenleaf
O’Toole Gardner
Hollander Fiedler
Nanus
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6. Types of Leadership Religious Political Corporate Societal
Knowledge-based
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7. Political Leadership
“Distribution of values and resources of a political society”
Conceptual development:
Authority
Power
Influence
Participation and Democracy
Ethics and Wisdom
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8. Evolution of Political Leadership
Authority:
Exclusive; closed system; eliminate autonomous and independent sources of leadership
Rational-legal framework described by Max Weber
Power
Behavioral and mobilizational construct
Ambition theory: high motivation for domination
Channel for social mobility and economic transformation
Lasswell’s Political man, Politics, and Personality
Influence
Interpersonal relations and communications
Leadership-followership relationship
Exchange, motivation, rewards, ideological inspiration, moral authority, charisma
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9. Evolution, cont. Participation: Democratic leadership
Interactive process
Involves individuals, groups, parties within societies
Ethics and Wisdom: Future Political Leadership
Emphasis on leaders, constituencies, local, state, national, and international
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10. Knowledge-based Leadership
“leaders to create new contexts, which breakdown organizational boundaries and encourage a variety of cognitive styles”
Democratic and communitarian
Strategic planning, information management
Change mindsets and methods
Create large, wide, deep, fast networks
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11. Summary
Leaders are needed to create and manage change in the 21st century
More eclectic approach necessary incorporating political, corporate and social leadership
Need for new styles in the face of rapid social and economic changes resulting from globalization and new technologies
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