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This book studies party leaders from selection to post-presidency. Based on data covering a large set of Western countries, and focusing on the trends of personalisation of politics, the volume is one of the first empirical investigations into how party leaders are elected, how long they stay in office, and whether they enter and guide democratic governments. It also provides novel data on how leaders end their career in a broad and diverse range of business activities. Topics covered include political leaders' increasing autonomy, their reinforcement of popular legitimation, often through the introduction of direct election by party rank and file, and their grip on party organization. The book will appeal to students and scholars interested in political parties, political leadership, the transformation of democracy, and comparative politics.
List of contents
Chapter I. Leader and Party: Still an Oxymoron?.- Chapter II. The Direct Election of Party Heads.- Chapter III. The Iron Law of Leadership: Ideology and Party Organization.- Chapter IV. The Party Leader in Government.- Chapter V. Leaders in Business.- Chapter VI. The Personal Side of Politics.
About the author
Fortunato Musella is Professor of Political Science at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and Professor of Political Concepts for the PhD courses of the Scuola Normale Superiore. His publications include the books
Governi Monocratici: La Svolta Presidenziale Nelle Regioni Italiane(
Monocratic Governments: The Presidential Turn in the Italian Regions, 2009) and
Il Premier Diviso: Italia tra Presidenzialismo e Parlamentarismo (
The Divided Premier: Italy between Presidentialism and Parliamentarism, 2012).
Summary
This book studies party leaders from selection to post-presidency. Based on data covering a large set of Western countries, and focusing on the trends of personalisation of politics, the volume is one of the first empirical investigations into how party leaders are elected, how long they stay in office, and whether they enter and guide democratic governments. It also provides novel data on how leaders end their career in a broad and diverse range of business activities. Topics covered include political leaders’ increasing autonomy, their reinforcement of popular legitimation, often through the introduction of direct election by party rank and file, and their grip on party organization. The book will appeal to students and scholars interested in political parties, political leadership, the transformation of democracy, and comparative politics.
