Leadership and Elites

Abstract

Leadership is one of the most important elements in the political life of states. Not only is it an inevitable product of large-scale political organisation,¹ but leadership style, the qualities of the occupants of leadership positions, the ability of the political system to recruit leaders of high quality, the commitment of leaders to the values of the regime, the distribution of formal and informal leadership positions — these are all factors which political scientists have studied, and which have been discovered as having influence on the survival, development and capacities of the political system. Leadership is also a form of political behaviour, and can be regarded as a particularly interesting and intensive case of political participation and political influence. It offers to its incumbents opportunities for realising their ideals and plans, whether these concern the unification of Germany, the creation of racial hegemony in Europe, the furtherance of socialism, or whatever.