The Role of Political Leadership in Economic Development

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is often said that strong political leadership is necessary for economic development. One look at the Third World suggests that strong political leadership may be good or bad for economic development. Almost everything depends on what sort of political leadership and what sort of economic development. This article seeks to clarify the issues by looking more closely at these two concepts. It distinguishes three functions of leadership—authority, inspiration and management. It then examines the relevance of political leadership in these three roles to the ends (objectives) and means (strategies) of economic development. It concludes that much depends on the circumstances of different countries, and that this applies not only to the desirability but also to the limitations of strong political leadership. In particular, except in the early years of mass mobilisation and fervour following a revolution, leadership which takes the form of central planning and detailed bureaucratic regulation of the e...