Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Great leaders - born or made?

By Souchou Yao - posted Wednesday, 3 January 2007


Great leaders were made by the conditions in which they lived: Hitler rose to power in the political vacuum left during the twilight of the German Weimer Republic, Mao Tse-tung in the chaos in China after the brutal Japanese occupation and rule by the corrupt Nationalist regime. History was crucial, as was their political skil, in seizing the opportunity and galvanising the suffering populace.

There must, however, be “externalities”. These leaders’ driving personalities, talent for clandestine organisations, near messianic visions and brilliant oratory skill that move and fire the crowd often ignore the “individual factor”. The crucial question is: if millions are born into the same world, why do only a handful of exceptional individuals emerge to change it, and light up the dreary gloom of the quotidian?

Confucianism has some fruitful things to say on this issue. Confucius spoke of the importance of people to act and behave ethically according to the prescribed rites and etiquette known as Li.

Advertisement

Li with its stricture of ritual form binds people to tradition, but that is not all. Confucius great insight is that ethical behaviours are at best things of daily practices; they do not come from contemplation of the abstract, or constant existential anxiety (“Am I doing right? Am I being kind?”) Li is praxis, you might say, welding ethical ideas with practices.

When Confucius addressed his disciples, he began to ask important questions about the State and the power of those who ran it.

You get an indelible sense from reading the Analects that those with political power had failed the people and his own ideals of political rule, and his students must be made vanguards of his ideas and vision.

For Confucius the highest calling of men of virtue was service in the government. To instil virtue (jen) in state officials and administrators is the formula for an orderly and a prosperous society. “To be Excellent when engaged in administration is to be like the Northern Star. As it remains in its one position, all the other stars surround it.” (Book II, verse 2). Men of jen should be the guardians of the State - “the leaders of men” - because they exercise power responsibly and morally.

And to exercise morals and power responsibly is to be inspiring. To Confucius, jen or virtue is the mark of a great leader because he - or she - embodies these very qualities, and by their actions and examples moves people to act with the same ethical ideals.

There is almost a modern feel to this point: that some “distinguished individuals” seem to hold enormous, magical appeal to their followers. Confucius praised the serene dignity of moral conduct and was confident of its power to persuade and influence (“Excellence does not remain alone, it is sure to attract neighbours” (Book IV, Verse 25)).

Advertisement

In the West social philosophers like Max Weber preferred a less sedate affair. For Weber, some leaders are endowed with exceptional, even superhuman qualities; and these qualities attract following and form the basis of a social, religious or political movement.

Leaders have the special gift of charisma. Charisma is bestowed on unique individuals almost by the divine. Charismatic leaders exercise authority not by tradition and law, but by their special personal qualities that inspire excessive passion and an enthusiastic following.

Great leaders thus have a special advantage when it comes to getting things done and getting people to go along with them. Charisma, or the extraordinary moral goodness that Confucius called jen, compels people to rally to the call, perhaps out of their own needs and inner promptings. Some rare individuals embody both jen and charisma.

This explains the universal appeal of Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama far beyond the original national and cultural significance that first brought them to prominence. Most importantly, the combination of charisma and moral goodness surely distinguishes them from other “Great Leaders” of evil - like of Hitler and Stalin.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

8 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Yao Souchou teaches anthropology at The University of Sydney with a focus on the Chinese Diaspora in South East Asia.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Souchou Yao
Article Tools
Comment 8 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy