Leadership

Leadership can refer both to the process of leading, and to those entities that do the leading. The process of leadership can be actual or potential:

Historical views on leadership

Aristocratic thinkers have postulated that leadership depends on one's blue blood or genes: monarchy takes an extreme view of the same idea, and may prop up its assertions against the claims of mere aristocrats by invoking divine sanction: see the divine right of kings. Contrariwise, more democratically-inclined theorists have pointed to examples of meritocratic leaders, such as the Napoleonic marshals profiting from careers open to talent.

Related Topics:
Aristocratic - Gene - Monarchy - Divine right of kings - Meritocratic - Napoleonic - Career - Talent

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the autocratic/paternalistic strain of thought, traditionalists recall the role of leadership of the Roman pater familias. feminist thinking, on the other hand, may damn such models as patriarchal and posit against them emotionally-attuned, responsive, and consensual empathetic guidance and matriarchies.

Related Topics:
Autocratic - Paternalistic - Pater familias - Feminist - Patriarchal - Empathetic - Matriarchies

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Comparable to the Roman tradition, the views of Confucianism on "right living" relate very much to the ideal of the (male) scholar-leader and his benevolent rule, buttressed by a tradition of filial piety.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Within the context of Islam, views on the nature, scope and inheritance of leadership have played a major role in shaping sects and their history. See caliphate.

Related Topics:
Islam - Caliphate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 19th century, the elaboration of anarchist thought called the whole concept of leadership into question. One response came with Leninism, which demanded an élite group of disciplined cadres to act as the vanguard of a socialist revolution, bringing into existence the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Related Topics:
Anarchist - Leninism - Cadre - Dictatorship of the proletariat

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other historical views of leadership have addressed the seeming contrasts between secular and religious leadership. The doctrines of Caesaro-papism have recurred and had their detractors over several centuries. Christian thinking on leadership has often emphasized stewardship of divinely-provided resources - human and material - and their deployment in accordance with a Divine plan. Compare servant leadership.

Related Topics:
Caesaro-papism - Stewardship - Servant leadership

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a more general take on leadership in politics, compare the concept of the statesman.

Related Topics:
Politics - Statesman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~