By: Alex Bruno
Honesty, integrity and selflessness are the basic attributes of a good political leader. These qualities can be mapped through careful and responsible analysis of political leadership, when the inquiry is premised on the merits and understanding of politics and how formal political organizations are led or managed.
We understand politics to mean the ongoing interaction among people, and leadership would thus be the harmonization of those interactions. Political parties are largely private entities, which mainly look after the interest of their members and affiliates. Parties also seek to hold public office with the balance authority over policy decision making, with the view to representing the best interest of the masses.
If leaders provide direction to parties and parties play the key role in governing the people, party leadership is crucial. So, leadership is not and should not be confused with gamesmanship or gamespersonship (my gender-appropriate word). Party leadership is an honorable and time-tested vocation, which has a constant resonance in all things good and decent. The requirement for democratic leadership is even more demanding; as such leaders must lead in the shadows of the forerunners of true democracy and must be wholly driven by team dynamics.
