Description: Through a range of international case studies from the USA, UK, France, Germany and Italy, this text assesses the conditions necessary for effective leadership and emphasizes the part played by uncertainty and division amongst followers.
Review Quotes:
"This collected edition brings together contributions from leading scholars in American, British, German, French and Italian politics to offer a fresh comparative perspective on the neglected question of leadership strategies. ... it aims to go beyond traditional analyses of individual leaders by focusing on the specific institutional, cultural and political frameworks in which they operate. ... a timely and valuable contribution to existing studies on leadership." (Emma Bell, Cercles, cerceles.com, February, 2016)
"This excellent volume provides fresh insights to fundamental and long-standing, but largely ignored, questions regarding the role of leadership in politics. By adopting a neo-institutional framework and a common focus on the management of contextual and social uncertainty, the rich and diverse set of comparative case studies offers a nuanced perspective on leadership that is valuable to any student of politics and policy." Gregory Wawro, Professor of Political Science, Columbia University, USA
"This wide-ranging volume begins the enormous - and enormously important - task of filling the gap between impressionistic leadership studies and the serious academic investigation of the politicians who are increasingly asserting the institutional powers and leveraging the charismatic opportunities of leadership. Broadly comparative, and combining case studies of both chief executives and legislative leaders, it is nonetheless united by clear themes, consistent categorizations, and systematic analysis that sheds new light on leadership." Thad Kousser, Professor of Political Science, University of California San Diego, USA