Political Executives and Leadership

Module: Politics
Lecture: Political Executives & Leadership
Course: Power, Politics & Policy Process
Area: Public Policy

1. Dr Faheem Jehangir Khan Research Economist, PIDE [email protected] PIDE, Islamabad | 2016 Political Executives & Leadership Chapter 13: Political Executives & Leadership ( pp. 284—308 ) Heywood, A. (2013). Politics . Fourth edition. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. * e-book available at PIDE Library

2. Political Executives & Leadership The branch of government that is responsible for the execution or implementation of policy ! The Executive is the irreducible core of government Political system can operate without constituencies, assemblies, judiciary and even parties, but… Political systems can not survive without executive branch to formulate government policies Political executives are face of politics Executive is a source of political leadership

3. Role of Executive Responsible for execution or implementation policy Members of executives are categorized: Political Executives Bureaucratic Executives In case of Parliamentary Executive , this distinction is very clear. In Presidential Executive , there is a greater overlap.

4. Functions of Political Executives The executive functions as the ‘commanding heights’ of the state apparatus. Political executive have to carry out several functions: 1. Ceremonial duties Represent the larger society and symbolize its unity. Non-executive presidents and constitutional monarchs are sometimes charged with ceremonial responsibilities.

5. Functions of Political Executives (2) 2. Control of policy-making Govern the policy process-key function. To develop coherent economic and social programs. 3 . Popular leadership The ability of the executive to mobilize support that ensures the compliance and cooperation of the general public Policy implementation becomes difficult, perhaps impossible, if executive is unable to gain support.

6. Functions of Political Executives (3) 4. Bureaucratic leadership Chief executives, ministers and secretaries constitute a ‘top management’ charged with running the machinery of government. Executive oversees administration. 5. Crisis leadership When crises break out, in either domestic or inter national politics, it is the executive that responds. ‘Emergency powers’ when confronted by domestic crises such as natural disasters, terrorist threats, industrial unrest and civil disorder or wars.

7. Power in Executives: Who leads? Different Dimensions of Power Formal Dimension of Power: The constitutional roles and responsibilities of executive officers and institutional frameworks in which they operate . Informal Dimension of Power: The role of personality, political skills and experience and the impact of factors, such as parties and media . External Dimension of Power: The political, economic and diplomatic context of govt. and the broader pressures that bear on the executive branch.

8. The Prime Minister Political Executives in the modern world can be classified as parliamentary executives Three essential features of parliamentary executives Executive power is derived from the assembly and party politics Political executive drawn from assembly Executive is directly responsible to the assembly Prime ministers become a kind of “Brand Image” Image a statesmanship portray as a national leaders

9. The Cabinet Cabinet constitutes the principal link b/w legislative and executive Cabinet is accountable to the parliament Cabinet is senior executive organ of the government Advantages It encourage full and frank policy debate It guarantees the unity and cohesion of government Disadvantages Decision are based on compromises Act as a cloak for prime ministerial power

10. Politics of Leadership Leaders ‘knew best’ and the public needed to be led, mobilized or guided…. An outdated phenomenon. Democratic politics may not have removed the need for leaders, but it has certainly placed powerful constraints on leadership. Still, the psychological make-up and motivations of political leaders is important. Reasons may be: Leaders need to ‘project themselves’- to gain electoral support An emphasis on PERSONALITIES rather than policies. People may focus on personal vision of individual leaders.

11. Theories of Leadership Based in the disagreement upon the nature of political leadership, four contrasting theories of leadership exists. 1. A natural gift The traditional view of leadership Leadership is strictly an individual quality Traditionally thought of as ‘men of destiny’. Now a days, this theory of leadership is embodied in the idea of charisma.

12. Theories of Leadership (2) 2. A sociological phenomenon Leadership as a sociological, rather than psychological, phenomenon. leaders are ‘created’ by particular socio-historical forces. Political leadership is largely a product of collective behavior . 3. An organizational necessity Leadership as a rational, or bureaucratic, device. It is something impersonal and based on formal(written) rules.

13. Theories of Leadership (3) 4 . A political skill Political leadership, in this sense, is similar to the art of manipulation. Based on features like, self-awareness, self-management, empathy and relationship management. Barak Hussain Obama is widely believed to have these skills.

14. Styles of Leadership Styles refers to the strategies and behavioral patterns through which a leader seeks to achieve his or her goals. Laissez-faire leadership Do not interfere in matters outside his or her personal responsibility. Transactional leadership Act as a brokers, balance rival factions and interests against each other Transformational leadership Mobilization of support through the leader’s capacity to inspire for the realization of their vision .

15. Thank You Dr Faheem Jehangir Khan Research Economist, PIDE [email protected] PIDE, Islamabad | 2016 15