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Conceptualizing Leadership: What It Is and Why It Matters

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Leadership in the Eurozone

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics ((PSEUP))

Abstract

Drawing on the state of the art in leadership research, this chapter elaborates a conceptualization of political leadership. In doing so, the chapter clarifies crucial questions that emerge from the literature: How does leadership differ from sheer power? Are leaders necessarily successful? How can we conceptualize the many different types of leadership? Based on existing literature, the chapter identifies the basic “ingredients” of leadership (power, common goal, strategies) as well as the parameters of its success. Moreover, the chapter distinguishes two crucial conceptions of leadership, and it concludes by presenting a definition.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For two contrasting views in the realm of international relations, see Jervis (2013) (sceptical) and Nye (2013) (affirmative).

  2. 2.

    For an overview of some seminal definitions of political leadership , see Elgie (1995: 3).

  3. 3.

    In the context of politics, and based on the criteria elaborated above, “success” is understood as the attainment of a policy or institutional change that is supposed to contribute to a common goal .

  4. 4.

    To be precise, the category of entrepreneurial leadership as proposed by Young refers only to individuals, not to composite actors such as states or organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for European Integration Research (EIF), Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Magnus G. Schoeller

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Correspondence to Magnus G. Schoeller .

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Schoeller, M.G. (2019). Conceptualizing Leadership: What It Is and Why It Matters. In: Leadership in the Eurozone. Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12704-6_2

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