Political Leadership

"Perhaps no question is as central to political discourse as that of political leadership. For if there is an 'irreducible fact' of politics, it is that in any political society some shall be the rulers and some the ruled" (Dahl, 1968, p. 251). If that fact of consensus exists, it is perhaps the only one that accurately describes what a leader is. Political leadership is a difficult and somewhat nebulous term to define; some define it as a power relation, others a form of influence or persuasion, still others as the effect of individual personalities on the political system as a whole. Political leadership is also associated with both formal and informal organizational systems, organized or unorganized, and in groups of every size and dimension (Kellerman (ed.), 1986, p. xiii).

In looking at such issues surrounding political leadership as the role of the leader, political acumen, the questions of why leaders lead, why followers follow, and the evaluation of motiva-tional factors that develop the complex political interactions within society, it is helpful to look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. This paper will examine basic leadership theory as related to the Reagan Presidency, his role as a domestic leader, and as a leader for foreign policy. In each, the emphasis will be on the personal qualities that engendered leadership from Reagan, as well as his perceived leadership abilities. It will conclude with an examination of Reagan's timing and other factors related to an

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of leadership is inexorably tied with this, the "Reagan Bay of Pigs" (Barilleaux, 1988, p. 114). Nevertheless, . . . the Iran-Contra affair is no mere replay of the Bay of Pigs . . . The essential point, however, is that a guide to understanding this mess is not to be found in Watergate. Rather, the cast of the Bay of Pigs can suggest some points for analysis. Specifically, the Bay of Pigs case suggests that the roots of the Iran-Contra affair be sought in White House operations and presidential management . . . (Barilleaux, p. 114). The theme of timing also enters into any discussion of Reagan's leadership in foreign issues. It was Ronald Reagan who rekindled the fervor against the "Evil Empire" in the guise of the Soviet Union. And the same Ronald Reagan who decided it was time for the United States to once again take a tougher stance against the incursions of communism, terrorism, or any activity not in line with his conservative view of democracy. One of the ways Reagan was able to assert leadership in the foreign scene was to establish America's role as the protector of democracy. He was able to do this, in one way, by an extraordinary leadership campaign using the fears from the post-war world combined with modern techn

Category: Government - P