From sovereign to interactive political leadership

Abstract

This chapter studies the crisis and possible transformation of political leadership in Western democracies in which elected politicians assume the main responsibility for lawmaking, the provision or commissioning of public services, regulation of society and the economy and public problem-solving. It argues that the traditional ways of thinking about and organizing the exercise of political leadership are challenged by political and social developments that undermine the ability of elected politicians to play the role they are supposed to play. It explores the new and tentative forms of interactive political leadership that aim to bring elected politicians and citizens together in ongoing, problem-focused discussions aiming to create new and innovative solutions with a broad-based ownership. It assesses the gains and barriers of interactive political leadership and discusses how it can be advanced by the construction of collaborative platforms and arenas. Finally, it looks at how interactive political leadership can be combined with more traditional forms of sovereign political leadership that place the ultimate power for political decision-making in the hands of elected politicians.