Aims
The main aim is to analyse the nature and role of leadership in contemporary politics. The course seeks to examine the development of leadership as a central issue in political debate and party calculations; to study the opportunities for, and constraints upon, leadership; to assess significance of leadership as a criterion of political evaluation and as a motive force in public action; and to appraise theories and debates surrounding the concept and practice of leadership in political contexts. For the purposes of focus and depth, the course will rely mainly upon examples taken from the US and the UK. However, leaders in other systems will be included (e.g. Nelson Mandela, Boris Yeltsin).

Where do leaders come from? How do they become leaders? What functions do they perform and what is the source of their authority? Are there born leaders or can leadership techniques be learnt? Is political leadership different to other forms of leadership? Why is there such an emphasis upon leadership in contemporary politics? What are the implications of this leadership-centred politics for conduct of contemporary democracy? By addressing itself to such questions, the course intends to provide a comprehensive introduction to the study of political leadership.

Objectives
By the end of the module students will:

• understand the meaning, position and techniques of leadership in a political environment;
• demonstrate a grasp of the different variants, styles and purposes of leadership;
• engage critically in current debates over the meaning and value of leadership, and over the implications of leadership politics in contemporary systems;
• apply theoretical perspectives to analytical questions and issues;
• possess an enriched understanding and practical awareness of how leadership can be generated, used, maintained and lost

10 ECTS Credits