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Political Leadership as Social Capital: Governing in a Divided National Culture
Author(s) -
Renshon Stanley A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
political psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.419
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1467-9221
pISSN - 0162-895X
DOI - 10.1111/0162-895x.00184
Subject(s) - social capital , capital (architecture) , democracy , politics , individual capital , servant leadership , diversity (politics) , political science , element (criminal law) , sociology , political economy , leadership style , public relations , social science , economic capital , law , economics , economic growth , human capital , archaeology , history
Social capital is the latest conceptual attempt to account for democracy'spersistence and, when it occurs, its success. Yet that focus neglects an essential element ofdemocracy's performance, leadership capital. Leadership capital consists of thecompetence, integrity, and capacities for performance that leaders may have or bring to bear onsociety's problems. However, it is grounded and unfolds in a society's culture andpsychology. Increasing diversity and cultural conflict place strong pressures on leadership capitalaccumulation in societies like the United States, and they require different strategies ofleadership if accumulated leadership capital is not to be depleted.