The most famous leaders in the world. The most prominent politicians of all times and peoples. Qualitative characteristics of a political leader

It can be carried out at various social levels: at the level of a small social group, at the level of a socio-political movement, at the level of the whole society and at the level of interstate structural formations. The phenomenon of leadership is due to the need to structure the social community and manage people.

Leadership can be formal, i.e. officially recognized and legally formalized (for example, the officially elected president of the country), and informal - a person actually performs the functions of the head of a group, organization, leads a social movement, enjoys the trust of a significant number of citizens, but does not have an official status .

Functions of a political leader

The leader is endowed with special, sometimes unlimited powers. If he does not justify the hopes placed on him, then he may not only lose his leadership, but also suffer a more severe punishment.

The functions of a political leader are very diverse. They depend on the society and the state in which he has to govern, on the specific tasks facing the country, on the alignment of political forces. The most important of these functions are:

integration of society, social community, class, party, etc. on the basis of common goals, values, political ideas;
determination of strategic guidelines in the development of society and the state;
participation in the process of developing and making political decisions, identifying ways and means of implementing program goals;
mobilization of the masses to achieve political goals;
social arbitration, support of order and legality;
communication between the authorities and the masses, strengthening the channels of political and emotional connection with citizens, for example, through the media or during various public events, including during election campaigns;
legitimization of power.

From the listed functions it is clear how great is the role of the leader in society and in any social structure. Therefore, in a number of countries (France, Japan, the USA, etc.), the selection and training of political leaders begins as early as childhood and adolescence. There are even special schools and universities for this. A good school for preparing a political leader is his participation in social movements and active membership in a political party. At the same time, along with the professional abilities of a potential leader, great importance is attached to his moral quality.

Unfortunately, our country does not yet have a well-functioning system for training, selecting and nominating political leaders. Therefore, leadership positions are often occupied by insufficiently competent people.

Qualitative characteristics of a political leader

Political leaders have their own qualitative characteristics ("political status", "political weight", "political capital", "political charisma", "morality", etc.).

Political status - it is the general position occupied by a political leader in the political system of a country or in the world community. According to A. V. Glukhova, political status implies:

place in the hierarchy of political power;
the totality and scope of political rights and freedoms;
the totality and volume of status duties, the space and nature of the status field of responsibility;
a real opportunity for certain groups, strata, individuals to participate in political life and influence it.

Thus, the popularly elected president of the country has the highest political status, since he is the representative of the whole people. Countries that are permanent members of the UN formally have a higher status than countries that are not. Consequently, the leader of a UN member country will also have an appropriate status in the international arena. There are three main levels of informal political status of the leader.

Domestic (intrastate) informal political status, which is "endowed" to the leader by the country's political system or civil society. For example, in the late 80s - early 90s. 20th century B. N. Yeltsin was “endowed” by a significant part of the Russians with the informal status of “a fighter against the CPSU and the totalitarian regime”, defending a democratic alternative to the development of Russia. This status largely contributed to his obtaining the formal status of the president of the country and his victories in the fight against the CPSU and in the conflict with the parliament (1993).

Internal informal political status recognized by international organizations and institutions. For example, in the course of an internal political conflict, the leader of the separatist rebels is given the status of a fighter for freedom and democracy. This status provides him with international support, and the rules of the 1949 Geneva Conference on humane treatment of prisoners of war apply to the captured members of the armed formations. In the absence of such a status, prisoners would be treated as criminals. A clear example of such a development of events is the first Chechen war (1994-1996). Many international organizations and institutions endowed Chechen fighters and their leaders with the "status" of fighters for the freedom and independence of the Republic of Ichkeria and provided them with all kinds of support. And only when irrefutable evidence of the connection of Chechen fighters with international terrorism appeared, their status changed and they lost a significant part of international support. But this "epiphany" was preceded by thousands of innocent victims.

External (international) informal political status recognized by international organizations and institutions. For example, such political leaders as Mahatma Gandhi (India, 30-40s of the 20th century) and N. Mandela (South Africa, 60-70s of the 20th century) were in opposition to the ruling in those goals in their countries to the political regime. Nevertheless, their political status was recognized throughout the world.

Political weight is the general influence (real or symbolic) and authority of the leader in the political sphere. When people talk about political "heavyweights", they mean those political leaders who are able to have a significant impact on the political process, for example, in making a political decision or resolving a political conflict. For example, the political weight of the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin was due to the fact that he was supported by the absolute majority of Russians; The political weight of the President of the United States in the international arena is due to the economic and military power of this country.

Political capital- this is the totality of the "merits" acquired by the political leader (ranks, titles, positions, statuses, political practices, decisions made, forecasts made, etc.) in the past and in the present.

According to D.P. Zerkin, “political capital means a number of features. In particular, the possession of some part of political power; inclusion in the political elite; political experience and authority, etc. 1 From our point of view, such a sign as “possession of some part of political power” is optional for a leader. A former or current politician with political capital may be in opposition or out of politics altogether. But the very possession of political capital can contribute to its return to real politics (Sch. de Gaulle, F. Roosevelt) or influence the political process (be in demand) in a different capacity (for example, the former US Secretary of State H. Kissinger is periodically involved (as a private person) to solve certain political problems).

The accumulation of political capital can be facilitated by successes in other areas of activity, for example, Academician A. D. Sakharov became a well-known politician largely due to his contribution to the development of nuclear physics. However, the main criterion for evaluating the “capital intensity” of a politician is his successful experience in practical political activity and the trust of the political elites and broad social strata that he owes. For example, US President F. Roosevelt, due to his effective political activity, was elected to this post four times.

Political capital, like any other type of capital (financial, social, symbolic, etc.), can be accumulated (“win”) and increased, or it can be squandered (lose) or even “go bankrupt”. Social revolutions in the most severe form demonstrate the moment of bankruptcy of the existing regime and the ruling politicians. P. A. Sorokin gave the following description of Louis XVI, Nicholas II and their governments on the eve of the French Revolution (1789) and the October Revolution in Russia: “Before our eyes is a whole gallery of physical and mental impotent, mediocre rulers, feminine and cynical dwarfs." The concept of "bankruptcy" can characterize the end of the policy of M. S. Gorbachev, who tried to build "socialism with a human face." B. N. Yeltsin gradually squandered his rather “solid” political capital after 1993.

Political capital can be transformed into other types of capital (social, cultural, military, symbolic, etc.). Many well-known politicians were helped to make a career by their previous activities in other spheres of life (French President Charles de Gaulle - a former military man, US President D. Reagan - film actor, Czech President V. Havel - writer, famous political and public figure A. D. Sakharov — nuclear scientist).

Political charisma - implies that a political leader has certain qualities that distinguish him from others. Usually, charisma is bestowed on an outstanding political leader or a cruel tyrant. For example, A. Macedonsky, Peter I, Napoleon, V. I. Lenin, I. V. Stalin, F. Castro and others are considered charismatic personalities. However, political organizations and political institutions can also be endowed with charismatic qualities. For example, the CPSU in the Soviet period, in fact, was a charismatic party - "the mind, honor and conscience of our era." For many Russians, the current Communist Party is associated with the CPSU and is also endowed with charisma. For most Chinese, the Chinese Communist Party is also charismatic.

Morality - implies that a political leader has high moral (moral) qualities that are associated in the public mind with the ideals of goodness, justice, and honest performance of public duty. For example, the so-called liberal democrats headed by B. N. Yeltsin, who reformed the Russian economy (liberalization, privatization, etc.) in the 1990s. of the 20th century are associated in the public consciousness of Russians as immoral politicians who made huge fortunes on the ruin of the country, and the high authority of V.V. Putin was largely based on his moral qualities.

Each person has their own prototypes for inheritance, idols or just people whose biographies motivate them to act. In world history, there is more than one example of biographies of famous people, after reading which you are inspired by absolutely any actions. Often these are people who lived centuries ago, but there are also our contemporaries. For some, these are athletes, for others - politicians, for others - successful entrepreneurs. But they all have one thing in common - they are leaders. And even today, when the world is changing rapidly, sometimes several centuries after the death of such figures, their ideas continue to be relevant and contribute to the rallying of people. Isn't that the job of a true leader?

political leaders

Professional politicians, skillful statesmen gave history the greatest number of famous leaders. The reason for this is the specificity of the area where such people quite often decided the fate of the world, and their names were constantly heard. In addition, success in politics requires charisma, fortitude and, as a rule, excellent oratory skills.

Winston Spencer Leonard Churchill(1874-1965) - British statesman, political and military leader, Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1940-1945 and 1951-1955. Journalist, writer, scientist. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Greatest Briton in history, according to a 2002 Air Force poll.

W. Churchill is a man of extraordinary energy and erudition. He worked in many ministries, had a direct influence on the development of military plans during the two world wars. Reading his "World War II" one never ceases to be amazed at the detail with which the author describes the diplomatic vicissitudes of the late 30s, and on the next page he gives a complete technical description of the magnetic mine. As a leader, Churchill took an active part in everything and was interested in everything that directly or indirectly related to government. He was an excellent public speaker - his radio speeches during the war years (for example, the famous "It was their best time") gathered huge audiences, instilling optimism and pride in Britain. Many of the speeches of the British politician remain a model of oratory, and certain phrases have become winged.

« Success cannot be guaranteed, it can only be earned.»

Franklin Delano Roosevelt(1882-1945) - American statesman and politician, 32nd President of the United States, the only president in the history of the country who was elected to the highest public office 4 times in a row. The author of the New Deal economic program, which helped the United States get out of the Great Depression, and also one of the successive inspirers of the idea of creating the UN.

F. Roosevelt is an example of a leader capable of uniting a variety of people in difficult times in order to achieve a common goal. Tied to a wheelchair due to illness, this politician managed to assemble a team of many specialists and won support in Congress for reforms aimed at improving the economy. The Roosevelt administration gave asylum to many Jewish refugees from Germany after the Nazis came to power there. Possessing extraordinary courage, purposefulness and strong character, this figure had a huge influence on international politics in the 30s - the first half of the 40s. XX century.

« Happiness lies in the joy of achieving a goal and the thrill of creative effort.»

Nelson Rolilahla Mandela(1918-2013) - 8th president and the first black president of South Africa, a well-known fighter for human rights and against apartheid. He was convicted for his activities and spent 27 years in prison, from 1962 to 1990. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 1993, honorary member of more than 50 international universities.

N. Mandela is a great example of transactional leadership. Having devoted his life to the idea of achieving equal rights for the black population of South Africa with whites, he advocated peaceful transformations, but did not hesitate to prove his case by carrying out acts of sabotage by the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). After winning the presidential election in 1994, N. Mandela appointed his main political opponent from the National Party, F. de Klerk, as first deputy, wanting to complete the settlement process that began in the 90s. Today, this politician is one of the most authoritative fighters against HIV-AIDS.

« If you have a dream, nothing will stop you from making it come true as long as you don't give up.»

Margaret Hilda Thatcher(1925-2013) - Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979-1990. The only woman to hold this position, as well as the first female prime minister of a European state. The author of tough economic measures to improve the economy, called "that-cherism". Received the nickname "Iron Lady" for the tenacity with which she pursued her policy and for her constant criticism of the Soviet leadership.

The leadership style of M. Thatcher, which best characterizes her leadership qualities, was close to authoritarian. She is a typical business woman: reasonable, logical, cold to emotions, but at the same time having a feminine look at the problem. The decisiveness with which the Falklands War was waged betrays in her a confident politician, and the letters that she herself signed for the family of each deceased - a mother. The conflict with the IRA, human casualties, attempts on the lives of the prime minister and her husband, difficult relations with the USSR - this is an incomplete list of what M. Thatcher had to face. How she coped with these challenges, history will judge. Only one fact is interesting - the iron lady was indifferent to feminism, trying all her life to show that there is no discrimination, and in order to achieve something it is enough to be better than everyone else.

« If you want something to be said, ask a man about it; if you want something done, ask a woman»

Examples of business leaders

Business, unlike politics, this is an area where the word "success" is used in relation to famous people much more often. Everyone wants to be successful, which is part of the reason for the popularity of books written by famous businessmen. Leaders in the economic field are often bold innovators, risk-takers and optimists who can captivate with their idea.

John Davison Rockefeller(1839-1937) - American businessman, philanthropist, the first dollar billionaire in the history of mankind. Founder of Standard Oil, the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, and the Rockefeller Foundation, who was involved in philanthropy, donating huge sums to fight disease and education.

J. Rockefeller was a competent manager. In the early days of his oil company, he refused to pay wages in cash, rewarding employees with shares in the company. This made them interested in the success of the business, because the profit of each directly depended on the income of the company. About the next stage of his career - the takeover of other companies - there are a lot of not very pleasant rumors. But turning to the facts, one can judge J. Rockefeller as a religious leader - from childhood he transferred 10% of his income to the Baptist church, donated to the development of medicine and Christian communities, and in his interviews he repeatedly emphasized that he cares about the welfare of his compatriots.

« "Your well-being depends on your own decisions"»

Henry Ford(1863-1947) American inventor, industrialist, owner and founder of the Ford Motor Company. He was the first to use an industrial assembly line for the production of cars, thanks to which Ford cars were for some time the most affordable on the market. He wrote the book "My Life, My Achievements", which became the basis for such a political and economic phenomenon as "Fordism".

Mr. Ford, without a doubt, was one of those people who had the greatest influence on the industrial development of the world in the twentieth century. O. Huxley in his anti-utopia "Brave New World" connects the beginning of the consumer society with the name of Ford, whom the world of the future considers a god. G. Ford's managerial decisions were in many ways revolutionary (an increase in wages by almost 2 times made it possible to gather the best specialists), which was dissonant with the authoritarian style of leadership, which manifested itself in the desire to make all decisions himself and fully control the work process, confrontation with trade unions, as well as anti-Semitic outlook. As a result, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy by the end of the industrialist's life.

« Time doesn't like being wasted»

« Everything can be done better than before»

Sergey Mikhailovich Brin(born 1973) is an American entrepreneur and scientist in the field of computing, information technology and economics. Developer and co-founder of the Google search engine and Google Inc. A native of the USSR, he now occupies 21st place in the list of the richest people on the planet.

In general, leading a modest lifestyle and not being a public figure, S. Brin is known as one of the world's most respected specialists in the field of search technologies and IT. He currently manages special projects at Google Inc. S. Brin advocates the protection of the right to public access to information, freedom and openness on the Internet. He gained particular popularity among the Internet community after he spoke out against radical anti-piracy programs initiated by the US government.

« Whether rich or not, I am happy because I enjoy what I do. And this is actually the main wealth»

Stephen Paul Jobs(1955-2011) - American entrepreneur, developer and co-founder of Apple, NeXT and the animation company Pixar. Led software development for iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and iPad. According to many journalists, Jobs is the "father of the digital revolution."

Today, the name of Steve Jobs is as successful a marketing sign as a bitten apple. Biographies of the founder of Apple are sold in millions of copies, thanks to which the company's products also benefit. This, to some extent, is the whole of Jobs: the success of his company and products is the merit not only of quality, but also of a set of actions planned to the smallest detail in marketing, sales, and support service. Many criticized him for his authoritarian management style, aggressive actions towards competitors, the desire for total control of products even after they were sold to the buyer. But is it not because of this that Applemania has become a real cultural trend of the early twenty-first century?

« Innovation separates the leader from the follower»

Leadership in culture

Without going into a philosophical debate regarding the influence of mass culture on the civilizational development of mankind, we note the fact that it is the leaders in this area who most often become the object of adoration and inheritance, understandable and simple, the same as an ordinary member of society. The reason for this is the very mass nature of the concept of pop culture and its accessibility.

Andy Warhole(1928-1987) - American artist, producer, designer, writer, collector, magazine publisher, film director, cult figure in the history of the pop art movement and contemporary art in general. Warhol is the world's second-best-selling artist after Pablo Picasso.

The influence of E. Warhol with his works as a hymn to the era of mass consumption had a huge impact on the development of culture in the 60s. and remain so to this day. Many fashion designers and designers consider his services to the fashion world simply titanic. Such concepts as a bohemian lifestyle and outrageous are firmly associated with the name of the artist. Undoubtedly, even today, Warhol's work does not lose its popularity and remains very expensive, and many cultural figures continue to inherit his style.

« The most beautiful thing in Tokyo is McDonald's. The most beautiful thing in Stockholm is McDonald's. The most beautiful thing in Florence is McDonald's. There is nothing beautiful in Beijing and Moscow yet»

John Winston Lennon(1940-1980) - British rock musician, singer, poet, composer, artist, writer. One of the founders and member of The Beatles. Political activist, preached the ideas of equality and brotherhood of people, peace, freedom. According to a BBC study, he is ranked 8th in the ranking of the greatest Britons of all time.

J. Lennon was one of the most famous spiritual leaders and inspirers for the hippie youth movement, an active preacher of the peaceful resolution of any conflicts existing in the world. A large number of young musicians admired his talent and activities. Lennon was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to world culture and social activities. The group's work, as well as a solo career, had a huge impact on the development of the culture of the twentieth century, and the songs rightly occupy places in the list of the best works ever written.

« Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.»

Michael Joseph Jackson(1958-2009) American entertainer, songwriter, dancer, composer, choreographer, philanthropist, entrepreneur. The most successful performer in the history of pop music, winner of 15 Grammy awards and hundreds of others. 25 times listed in the Guinness Book of Records; Around a billion copies of Jackson's albums have been sold worldwide.

M. Jackson is a man who raised the music industry and choreographic performances to a qualitatively new level. The number of admirers of his talent is measured by millions of people from all over the world. Without exaggeration, this person is one of the most significant personalities of pop culture of our time, who, with his life and work, largely determined its development.

« You may have the greatest talent in the world, but if you don't prepare and work according to plan, everything will go to waste.»

sports leaders

Sport is one of the areas of popular culture. To achieve success in this area, you need to have talent, stand out in physical or mental abilities, but there are cases when success was also achieved by those who stubbornly went to the goal through exhausting training and complete dedication. This makes the sport idealized, because he knows most of all examples when a boy from the Brazilian slums or from a family of disadvantaged African immigrants reached the top, becoming an idol for millions of the same children all over the world.

Edson Arantis do Nascimento(better known as Pele) (born 1940) - Brazilian football player, businessman, football functionary. Member of four World Cups, 3 of which Brazil won. The best football player of the 20th century according to the FIFA Football Commission, the best athlete of the 20th century according to the International Olympic Committee. He is one of the 100 most influential people in the world according to Time magazine.

The success story of the football player Pele most accurately fits the title description of the boy from the slums. Many achievements of the Brazilian remain unique to this day; almost all children chasing a ball in the yard know his name. For admirers of his genius, the example of Pele is not only an example of one of the greatest football players, but also a successful businessman, a public figure who turned a childhood hobby into a life's work.

« Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, learning, sacrifice and above all, love for what you are doing or learning to do.»

Michael Jeffrey Jordan(born 1963) is a famous American basketball player, shooting guard. One of the best basketball players in the world in this position. Multiple NBA champion, two-time Olympic champion. Today he owns the Charlotte Bobcats. Especially for M. Jordan, Nike developed the Air Jordan shoe brand, which is now popular all over the world.

According to research published in an article titled "The Jordan Effect" in Fortune magazine, the economic impact of the brand called "Michael Jordan" has been estimated at $8 billion. M. Jordan is a cult figure for basketball, American and world admirers of this game. It was he who played a huge role in the popularization of this sport.

« Boundaries, like fears, are often just illusions.»

Muhammad Ali(Cassius Marcellus Clay) (born 1942) is an American professional heavyweight boxer, one of the most famous and recognizable boxers in the history of world boxing. Sports person of the century according to the BBC, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, philanthropist, excellent speaker.

One of the most famous boxers of the "golden era of boxing", Muhammad Ali is an example of how a talented person, even having lost everything, continuing to work hard on himself, reaches the top again. His three fights with Joe Frazier are among the best boxing fights of all time and, without a doubt, are known to all fans of this sport. Even after the end of his career, Mohammed Ali remained one of the most recognizable athletes of the twentieth century, many books, newspaper and magazine articles have been written about him, more than a dozen films have been shot.

« Worrying about past mistakes all the time is the worst mistake»

military leaders

Today, thanks to the rapid development of technology, including military technology, there is not much room left in history for a military genius. But even a century ago, the fate of individual states and the world as a whole sometimes depended on generals and military leaders.

Alexander III the Great of Macedon(356-323 BC) - Macedonian king from 336 BC. e. from the Argead dynasty, commander, creator of world power. He studied philosophy, politics, ethics, literature with Aristotle. Already in antiquity, Alexander was entrenched in the glory of one of the greatest generals in history.

Alexander the Great, whose military and diplomatic skills are unquestioned, was a born leader. No wonder the young ruler won love among his soldiers and respect among enemies at such a young age (he died at 32): he always kept himself simple, rejected luxury and preferred to endure the same inconvenience in numerous campaigns as his troops, did not attack at night, was honest in negotiations. These features are a combined image of the characters of books and films loved by all of us in childhood, heroes idealized in world culture.

« I owe to Philip that I live, and to Aristotle that I live with dignity.»

Napoleon I Bonaparte(1769-1821) - Emperor of France in 1804-1815, great commander and statesman, military theorist, thinker. He was the first to single out artillery as a separate branch of the armed forces, and began to use artillery preparation.

Individual battles won by Napoleon entered military textbooks as examples of the art of warfare. The emperor was far ahead of his contemporaries in his views on the tactics and strategy of war, and government. His very life is a testament to how you can develop a leader in yourself, making it a life task. Not being of high origin, not standing out among his peers in the military school with special talents, Napoleon became one of the few cult personalities in world history thanks to constant self-development, unprecedented diligence and extraordinary thinking.

« Leader is a merchant of hope»

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov(1802-1855) - Russian naval commander, admiral. He circumnavigated the world in the team of MP Lazarev. He defeated the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Sinop during the Crimean War. Recipient of many awards and orders.

The leadership qualities and skills of PS Nakhimov were most fully manifested during his leadership of the defense of Sevastopol. He personally traveled around the advanced positions, thanks to which he had the greatest moral influence on the soldiers and sailors, as well as the civilian population mobilized to defend the city. The talent of a leader, multiplied by energy and the ability to find an approach to everyone, made Nakhimov a "father-benefactor" for his subordinates.

« Of the three ways to act on subordinates: rewards, fear and example - the last is the surest»

Reviews, comments and suggestions

The above list of outstanding leaders from various fields is only a small part of the material in this direction. You can express your opinion or write about a person who is an example for you using the form below.

A number of bases for classifying leaders have become generally accepted in the history of politics.
In the history of politics, authoritarian and democratic leaders stood out in relation to the leader to his subordinates. Authoritarian leaders were represented by the majority of absolute monarchs (Ivan the Terrible37 and others), Eastern rulers (Timur, Genghis Khan and others), leaders of revolutionary movements (Robespierre, V.I. Lenin, Khomeini38 and others). The undisputed authoritarian leaders were the leaders of reactionary political movements and juntas (Franco39, Pinochet and others) and dictators Ivan IV the Terrible (1530-1584), Grand Duke of Moscow (1533-1584), the first Russian tsar (1547-1584), carried out administrative and judicial reforms (1547-1563), expanded the territory of Russia by west and east, introduced the oprichnina, strengthened the autocracy. Khomeini Ruhollah (c. 1900-1989) - Iranian religious and political figure. Son and grandson of religious and political figures. Proclaimed Ayatollah (Persian - “sign of God”, the highest spiritual rank of the Shiites) in 1950. During anti-government demonstrations (1963), he opposed land reform and the policy of restructuring life in Iran according to the Western model, for which he was sent to prison. He was exiled to Iraq (1964), moved to France, campaigned against the Shah's regime. Returned to Iran (1978), was proclaimed the religious leader of the revolution. He advocated the continuation of the Islamic revolution in the Middle East, for the observance of Sharia law, the fundamentalist traditions of Islam.
He pursued an anti-American policy, only under pressure from the UN agreed to peace with Iraq. Franco (Baamonde) Francisco (1892-1975) - Spanish commander, head of state. Monarchist, made a quick military career. After the declaration of Spain as a republic (1931) and the abdication of the king, he went into the shadows. By 1935 he became chief of the General Staff. After the creation of the government of the Popular Front (1936), he went into opposition, but did not immediately join the conspirators. Only in July agreed to lead the troops that arrived from Morocco, and moved them to Madrid. For three years he led the Civil War and won it (1939). He became a dictator, banned the opposition, led the Spanish Falange, transformed it into a fascist party. During the Second World War, he remained neutral, although he sympathized with Hitler and Mussolini. After he was condemned by the UN, but during the Cold War, for undisguised anti-communism, he was supported by Western countries. Restored the monarchy by proclaiming Prince Juan Carlos, grandson of Alfonso XIII, his successor and heir to the throne (1969). In recent years, he pursued a liberal domestic policy. After his death, Spain became a constitutional monarchy.

(Nero41, Stalin, Hitler42 and others). Democratic leaders were represented by individual heads of state who received power by inheritance (Ashoka and others). Democratic leaders were constitutional monarchs (in Great Britain, in modern Spain, in the Netherlands, in Sweden and in other states). Democratic leaders, in our opinion, include the majority of leaders of states, parties, movements and other public organizations elected on the basis of voting in most of the republics that have ever existed in the history of politics. As a rule, most of the heads of public services and organizations appointed by the heads of democratic states or public organizations were forced to be democratic leaders.
According to the scale of influence in the history of world politics, leaders were distinguished: local (influential representatives of the local elite, heads of communities, tribes, ethnic groups, heads of settlements or territories with certain privileges or the right to local self-government, representatives of religious denominations in the field, heads of local authorities, leaders of political groups, branches of movements and parties, and so on); regional (influential representatives of the regional elite, elected or appointed heads of regions, influential representatives of various Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus (c. 37-68) - Roman emperor (54-68). He was adopted by Claudius after marrying the mother of Nero. Claudius died suddenly, Nero became emperor and immediately poisoned Britannicus, his half-brother. He ordered his mother to be killed, forced Seneca, his former tutor, to commit suicide, executed his wife, the second wife also died a violent death. The first of the emperors persecuted and executed Christians.
He set fire to Rome (64), seeking to rebuild it again with great splendor. He considered himself an outstanding actor, singer, athlete and the best charioteer. After the uprising in Palestine (66), the uprising of the rulers of the provinces (68), abandoned by everyone, committed suicide. Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) - German dictator. Member of the First World War, twice awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. Nationalist, demagogue, anti-Semite, anti-communist. He became the leader of the Nazis (1921), made an unsuccessful attempt to seize power (1923 - the Munich "beer putsch"), wrote "Mein Kampf" in prison. He was appointed head of government (1933), established a one-party dictatorship, eliminated rivals during the "night of long knives"
(1934), after the death of President Hindenburg, assumed the title of President and "Fuhrer of the German Nation" (1934). Occupied the Rhine demilitarized zone (1936), signed the Munich Agreement (1937), carried out the Anschluss of Austria (1938), gradually captured Czechoslovakia (1938), conquered Poland (1939), thereby unleashing the 2- yu world war. He conquered a number of European states, including France (1940), unleashed a war with the USSR. He carried out the systematic extermination of Jews, Slavs and other peoples, the apogee of which was the Holocaust of the Jews. When the Soviet troops approached, he committed suicide.
branches of regional government, representatives of religious denominations in the region, heads of regional political groups, movements and parties, heads of branches of national political movements and parties, and so on); national (influential representatives of the national elite, national leaders of all branches of government, political groups, movements and parties, leaders of religious denominations, branches of international movements and organizations, and so on); international (influential representatives of international regional elite groups, leaders of regional organizations, regional political groups, movements, interstate unions and associations); global (representatives of the world political elite, leaders of the countries of the core of the world political system, leaders of world churches, international organizations, TNCs, political groups, movements).

According to the style of leadership in the history of world politics, a number of scientists, including Machiavelli, Max Weber44 and others, singled out foxes, lions, tyrants, oligarchs, standard-bearers, ministers, merchants, firefighters, actors or demagogues. Of exceptional interest is the position of A.S. Panarin on leadership styles45.

Studies of the phenomenon of leadership in the history of world politics give other options for classification. Among them in the history of politics can be distinguished: in terms of structural parameters - the leaders of the organization, including the international one, the leaders of the group, movement, party and state; in relation to the existing political system - leaders are functional and dysfunctional, conformist and nonconformist; according to the social nature of authority, leaders are traditional, bureaucratic (rationally legal) and charismatic. Etc.
It should be noted, however, that not a single leader in the history of politics fits into any of the schemes, because each leader is an individual. And depending on the situation, it can be anyone. Each leader is multi-faceted and multifunctional; as a rule, he is not subject to schemes and restrictions if he is a true leader. In each situation, he acts accordingly and plays the appropriate role. It was the unpredictable role of the individual in the history of politics that inspired the outstanding Russian scientist I.A. Ilyin refuse to recognize trends and patterns in politics.
The role of a leader can only conditionally be inscribed in certain schemes or structures. One can only speak of the priority or predominant manifestation in individual situations of the traits most adequate to this situation. In other situations, other features and characteristics will come to the fore, which each person, and even more so the leader, has a huge variety of.
conclusions
The rights and freedoms of the individual in the history of world politics consisted of three levels: personal civil and political rights and freedoms; social and economic rights and freedoms; ethnic and national rights and freedoms.
The source of political activity of the individual in the history of world politics was the motives underlying the motivation of activity and behavior. These included needs, inclinations, interests, ideals, beliefs, feelings.
The interests of the individual in the history of world politics acted, first of all, as the need to prioritize the implementation of targets, as well as a form of manifestation of cognitive needs.
Inclinations are a form of manifestation of the need to carry out activities of interest.
Beliefs are considered, first of all, as the conscious needs of the individual, prompting her to act in accordance with her value orientations.

Ideals form the basis of a complex system of regulators, referred to as a worldview. The worldview in the history of world politics is understood as an ordered system of political views, ideals and beliefs, value orientations, principles of knowledge and activity, which is formed as a result of the conscious development of the individual.
Socialization in the history of world politics was a process of assimilation by an individual of the knowledge, norms and values necessary for him to live and work in society. The politicization of the individual, like socialization, had three stages: family, school and social, so named for the predominant influence of the family, school and society, which did not exclude the simultaneous influence of the other two environments.
Politicization in the history of world politics was carried out on the basis of external influence and through self-education. Internal and external factors of politicization in the history of politics contributed to the formation of democratic and authoritarian personality types.
In the history of world politics, in political science in general, the concept of a leader is associated with authoritative members of groups, public organizations, parties, states, societies, the world community, whose personal influence allows them to play a significant role in making political decisions.
A leader in the history of world politics has always had to have: a clear and, if possible, brief program of political action, understandable not only to his comrades-in-arms, but also to the majority of the population; the ability to arouse interest in oneself, to win the sympathy of friends and supporters, of the general population, to please people, to be popular not only among like-minded people, but also in wider circles; the ability to take responsibility for the actions of their individual associates, their group, movement or party, their social environment, their people; organizational talent, knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of their like-minded people, the ability to rally them, a good memory; strong political will, develop, adopt and defend decisions, including unpopular ones, but necessary to achieve the set goals; original thinking, the ability to be ready to develop and implement non-trivial solutions; oratorical skills, figurativeness and aphorism of speeches, the ability to use popular expressions, new trends in the language. In the event of extreme conditions for the functioning of society in the history of world politics, the main qualities of a leader were and remain: the formulation and promotion of heuristic programs and ideologies, new creative goals in conditions where traditional guidelines are devalued, society is split, apathy and anarchy reign in it; concretization of ways to follow fundamental national values, connection of solving urgent problems with the history of the country, with the traditions of generations; going beyond bureaucratic procedures; creation of a new model of behavior and thinking that could be replicated by supporters and distributed in society; instilling faith and optimism in the people, helping to overcome uncertainty, guilt and inferiority complex.
The main functions of a leader have always been and remain: the consolidation of supporters and the creation of an appropriate organizational structure of their group, movement, party or society as a whole; development, adoption and implementation of the adopted decisions into political practice; protection of its supporters and the population supporting it from infringement of rights, from economic, social and other troubles; mediation in the interaction between authorities and the population; initiation of renewal in connection with new trends and new circumstances in the political life of society.
In the history of world politics, authoritarian and democratic leaders stood out in relation to the leader to his subordinates.
According to the scale of influence in the history of world politics, leaders were distinguished: local, regional, national, international and global.
According to the style of leadership in the history of world politics, a number of scientists singled out foxes, lions, tyrants, oligarchs, standard-bearers, ministers, merchants, firefighters, actors (demagogues).
Questions What are the characteristics of the individual as a subject of the history of world politics? What qualities were necessary for a person to become a leader in the history of world politics? What are the functions of a leader in the history of world politics? What are the functions of a leader in extreme conditions of social development in the history of world politics?
Tasks According to historical sources, compare the distinctive features of the leaders of the revolution in France. Establish the difference between the features of politicization in feudal Russia and in modern Russia. On specific examples, establish the difference between different types of leaders in the history of world politics.

List of literature recommended for chapter 7
Anthology of world political thought. T. II. Foreign political thought. 20th century M., 1997. Volume IV. Political thought in Russia. XIX-XX centuries M., 1997.
Volume V. Political Documents. M., 1997.
PecceiA. Human qualities. M., 1977.
Braudel F. Material civilization, economy and capitalism, XV-XVIII centuries.
T. III. Peace time. M., 1992
Cohen D.L., Arato E. Civil Society and Political Theory. M., 2003.
Kara-Murza S.G. Mind manipulation. M., 2002.
Olshansky D.V. Fundamentals of political psychology. Yekaterinburg, 2001.
Olshansky D.V. Political PR. SPb., 2003.
Political history of Russia in parties and persons. M., 1993.
Psychology and psychoanalysis of power. Anthology in two volumes. T. I, II. Samara, 1999.
Sergeev A.G. The rulers of states and the church fathers of Europe for 2000 years. Tver, 1997.
A series of biographies "The Life of Remarkable People" by the publishing house "Young Guard".
Fedorova E.V. Imperial Rome in person. M., 1979.

The ability to govern a country is quite rare. Someone achieves goals, pouring blood over the whole country, and someone is carrying out smart reforms. There are many people in history who, through their activities, were able to significantly change the face of the country in the time allotted to them. As a result, contemporaries remember them, revere them, and learn from their activities.

Any actions of great politicians affected millions of people, changing the fate and appearance of the state. In addition, often had to fight not only with internal enemies, but also with external ones. One thing is for sure - a politician must be charismatic in order to lead.

And in order to influence society, it is not necessary to be at the very top of power. Sometimes even being in opposition, the politician did a lot for the country. The most famous politicians in the history of civilization will be discussed below. At the same time, it would be useful to recall their most famous phrases.

Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi (1869-1948) Largely thanks to this man, India was able to get rid of the centuries-old rule of Great Britain. Gandhi's work was based on his philosophy of non-violence, or Satyagraha. The politician abandoned the armed struggle, as many others would have done in his place, in favor of a peaceful one. As a result, a powerful movement of supporters of non-violent change arose in the country. The struggle for independence was fought through peaceful resistance. Gandhi urged the Indians to boycott English institutions and goods, the citizens of the country even defiantly violated some laws. Caste inequality, which became the scourge of Indian society, became the subject of Gandhi's struggle. He spoke about the need to get rid of untouchability not only from churches, but also from other spheres of life. Today, the name of this politician is revered in India no less than some saints. Gandhi became the spiritual leader of the nation, he devoted his whole life to reconcile the religious strife that was tearing the country apart. Sadly, it was the violence against which the politician fought that caused his death. Gandhi is credited with the following words: "The world is big enough to satisfy the needs of any person, but too small to satisfy human greed" and "If you want a change in the future, become this change in the present."

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). This king of Macedonia and the creator of a great empire is better known as one of the most successful generals in world history. But his political activities are often forgotten. But it was he who created a new great state, which is located on three continents, covering an area of more than two million square miles. The empire stretched from Greece in the West to the Danube in the north, the southern border lay in Egypt, and the eastern one in the Indian Punjab. The whole country was united by a single trade and transport network. At the same time, the emperor managed to found more than 70 new cities. Alexander brought a common and unified Greek culture and language to his empire, and he himself did not hesitate to study the customs and customs of other peoples in order to more easily manage them. For his own army, the emperor was an unsurpassed genius and strategist. He was an example of behavior for the soldiers, inspiring them with an invincible spirit. Even at one time, in antiquity, no one doubted that Alexander the Great was the greatest commander. Even then he was called the Great. But Napoleon Bonaparte bowed more to the state talents of the emperor than to his military exploits. For example, in Egypt, Alexander paid a visit to the sacred oracle of Amun in the country, which endeared the inhabitants to him. In addition, he left the former governors to govern the country, driving out the hated Persians and arranging festivities. Alexander, in fact the invader of Egypt, was able to become an idol there. The following phrases are attributed to the great politician and commander: “There cannot be two suns in the sky and two rulers on earth”, “Wars depend on glory, and often a lie that is believed becomes the truth”, “There is nothing more slavish than luxury and bliss and nothing more regal than labor."

Mao Zedong (1893-1976). This Chinese politician of the last century also became the main theorist of Maoism. Mao joined the Chinese Communist Party at a young age, and in the 1930s he headed one of the districts in Jiangxi province. During the Long March, Mao managed to become one of the leaders of the country's party. In 1949, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, and Mao Zedong became its actual leader until the very end of his life. The leadership of the leader is considered to be controversial. On the one hand, he was able to industrialize the country, raising the standard of living of the poorest segments of the population. Mao managed to unify China, including Inner Mongolia, Tibet and East Turkestan. But these lands had the right to self-determination even after the collapse of the Qing Empire. But we must not forget about the numerous repressions that were condemned not only in the capitalist countries, but also in the socialist ones. The country even had a cult of the personality of the leader. The heaviest legacy of the politician's rule should be considered the crippled fate of millions of people who suffered from cruel and sometimes senseless campaigns. The Cultural Revolution alone claimed the lives of up to 20 million Chinese, and another 100 million were affected by it. In 1949, Mao came to power in a fragmented, underdeveloped, and corrupt country. And he left China powerful, independent and possessing atomic weapons. Illiteracy in the country decreased from 80% to 7%, the population and life expectancy doubled. The most famous phrases of Mao Zedong sound like this: “The enemy will not disappear by itself”, “It is necessary to work with exceptional diligence. Negligence is unacceptable, it often leads to mistakes”, “What is conceivable is feasible”, “A person who has felt the wind of change should not build a shield from the wind, but a windmill.”

Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965). This statesman and politician determined the life of Great Britain and much of the world in difficult times. Churchill was Prime Minister of this country in 1940-1945 and 1951-1955. He is also known as a journalist and writer. The Englishman entered the "Big Three", which determined the fate of the world after the end of the Second World War. It was he who in many ways made the world the way we know it today. Churchill became the brightest British politician of the last century, he managed to stay in power under six monarchs - from Queen Victoria to her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II. There is simply no point in enumerating Churchill's life achievements - he managed to become talented in everything. For his political activities, he was made an honorary citizen of the United States, and his literary works were awarded the Nobel Prize. Churchill's political career began before the First World War. The Englishman had already managed to make war by that time. And at the end of his career, Churchill managed to visit the tests of the atomic bomb, the weapon of the New World. The appearance of the politician was unchanged - a bowler hat, a cane and a cigar. He was also an excellent diplomat, artist and even a gardener on his own estate. A poll conducted by the BBC in 2002 showed that the British called Churchill the greatest Briton in history. In 1955, he left big politics, living out the rest of his days in peace. The basis of Churchill's political portrait was his commitment to democracy and total hatred of dictatorship. It is no coincidence that he said that "Democracy is the most terrible form of government, but mankind has not come up with anything better." That is why Churchill's attitude towards the USSR was extremely restrained, this politician coined the term "Iron Curtain" and stood at the origins of the Cold War. Other great phrases of Churchill are as follows: “If the truth is many-sided, then the lies are many-voiced”, “Every medal not only shines, but also casts a shadow”, “A person has expanded his power over everything except himself”, “First you need to be honest, and only then - noble", "To improve means to change, to be perfect means to change often."

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013). This man went down in history as the first black president of South Africa. He held this post from 1994 to 1999. Mandela was one of the most famous human rights activists during the apartheid period in the country. He began his political work for the equality of white and black people while still in college. In 1944, Mandela became a founding member of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. In South Africa, the politician pursued his line by organizing acts of sabotage and armed resistance to the authorities. For this, Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. At the trial, he made a brilliant speech, where he said that he was being tried for his desire to build a democratic state in South Africa with equal rights for all citizens. Mandela gained worldwide fame while in solitary confinement. The campaign for the democratic politician swept across the world, the demands for his release grew into a fight against the whole policy of apartheid. After the legalization of the ANC in 1990, Mandela was released. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, the elder is no longer active. Mandela managed peacefully, simply by his uncompromising position, to destroy one of the most monstrous regimes on the planet. At the same time, neither revolutions, nor wars, nor social upheavals were needed. Everything happened through fair parliamentary elections. The politician's birthday is celebrated all over the world as Nelson Mandela's International Day. Mandela's reign was short but bright. Under him, free medical care for children was introduced, 2 million people received electricity, 3 million people got access to water, he increased spending on education and social needs. Mandela owns such famous phrases: “To be free means not only to throw off the shackles from oneself, but to live, respecting and increasing the freedom of others”, “When you climb a high mountain, a huge number of mountains open before you, which you have yet to climb”, “ One of the highest achievements for a person is to do his duty, regardless of the consequences.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). This American statesman was the 16th President of the United States. He held this post from 1861 until his death. Lincoln became the first Republican president. He is considered to be a national hero in America, because this man entered the history of the country as a liberator of slaves. Lincoln occupies an important place in the minds of Americans. He was able to prevent the collapse of the United States, under him the formation of the American nation began. And slavery, as a crutch that hinders the further normal development of the United States, was abolished. Lincoln laid the foundations for the modernization of the southern states of the country, formerly backward and agricultural. Under him, the emancipation of slaves began. Lincoln owns the basic formulation of democratic goals: "To create a government by the people, from the people and for the people." Lincoln was able to build a railroad across the entire continent, linking the coasts of two oceans. He expanded the state infrastructure, created a new banking system, and was able to solve the agrarian problem. After the end of the Civil War, the government faced many problems. It was necessary to unite the nation and equalize the rights of the population. Lincoln started doing this, but some problems still remain. The President was able to lay the foundations for the future of America, after his death, the United States became the fastest growing country in the world. This determined its current world domination, which has lasted for a century. Lincoln's strict moral principles allowed him to mobilize all the forces of a fragmented country and reunite it. The most famous phrases of Lincoln: “Whoever denies the freedom of another does not deserve freedom himself”, “People who have no flaws have very few virtues”, “You can fool all the people for a while, you can fool some of the people all the time, but you cannot deceive all the time”, “The sheep and the wolf understand the word “freedom” differently. This is the essence of the disagreements that prevail in human society", "The politician reminds me of a man who killed his father and mother, and then, when he is sentenced, he asks for mercy on the grounds that he is an orphan", "Character is like a tree, and reputation is his shadow. We care about the shade, but we really have to think about the tree."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945). This is the only president in the history of the United States who was elected to this high post as many as 4 times. Roosevelt became the 32nd ruler of the country, being at the pinnacle of power from 1933 to 1945. The main phrase of the politician: "we have nothing to fear, except fear itself." Roosevelt repeated these words often when it came to the Great Depression and its consequences. The politician was not afraid to experiment at that difficult time, he was constantly looking for new methods of solving problems. These were public works, welfare, codes of fair competition, relief for the unemployed and farmers, price controls. It was Roosevelt who was at the heart of the creation of the UN. The President, through his activities, significantly influenced world history - after all, under him, the United States relatively successfully passed through the Second World War. The politician had a very great influence on the socio-economic life of the country, because he had to deal with the consequences of the Great Depression that hit the United States in the 30s. Biographers of the politician recalled that he was a rather secretive nature, which was difficult to understand. On his face walked a mask of complacency and mystery, which Roosevelt was content with. The most famous words of the president were: “I ask you to judge me by the enemies that I have made”, “I am not the smartest guy in the world, but I can select smart employees”, “Rules are not always holy, unlike principles”, “ Hungry unemployed people are cadres for the dictatorship”, “Do not go into politics if your skin is a little thinner than that of a rhinoceros”.

Akbar the Great (1542-1605). This padishah belonged to the dynasty of the Great Moghuls, his distant ancestor was Tamerlane himself. Akbar was nicknamed "the Indian Solomon in his wisdom". This padishah was able to significantly expand the borders of his country. He conquered the north of Hindustan, including Gujarat, Kashmir and the lands of the Indus. As a commander, he was a successful and valiant warrior, who was distinguished by generosity towards the vanquished. But Akbar also went down in history as a wise politician. He avoided unnecessary bloodshed, often achieving his goals through peaceful negotiations, dynastic marriages and alliances. Akbar went down in history as a connoisseur of science and art, with him the best poets, musicians, scientists and artists constantly visited the palace. The ruler was able to create a school of painting and a valuable library, which contained 24,000 volumes. Akbar introduced a unified system of taxation, and in the event of a crop failure, funds were not collected. The tax on non-Muslims was also abolished. A unified system of weights and measures appeared in the empire, a single calendar, much attention was paid to trade. The main task of Akbar the Great was the reconciliation of all the numerous peoples who inhabited his expanded state. The padishah was in power for almost 50 years, becoming the ruler at the age of 14. Under him, a huge empire, under the supervision and care of his padishah, reached a flowering that had never happened before or since. Akbar went down in history as the Great. This wise ruler was able to unite various peoples. His ideas of the unity of all religions are still relevant today.

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013). This woman is the most famous among politicians. She was the only one who was Prime Minister of Great Britain. She held this post from 1979 to 1990. All this time she was the most powerful woman in the world. As a politician, Thatcher was a strong personality, but honest. She was not afraid to be stubborn, but she could enter into the position of her rival. This woman was ambitious, she was distinguished by equanimity and composure in all situations. In a male-oriented political elite, Thatcher was able to achieve the very pinnacle of power. To do this, she devoted her whole life to the struggle and pursuit of this goal. Margaret's career was in small steps, because she came from a poor class. It seemed impossible for a person from that environment, and even a woman, to achieve lofty goals. Thatcher did the impossible - the daughter of the owner of a small shop, who grew up in a house without running water, was able to break into male politics and take the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Thatcher came to power when the country was in dire need of reforms. During her reign, GDP grew by 23%, employment - by 33%, spending on law and order - by 53%. She reduced unemployment and introduced tax reforms. Thatcher's foreign policy was focused on the United States. The prime minister supported Reagan's initiatives towards the USSR. The woman was not afraid to start a war for the Falkland Islands, defending the position and prestige of Great Britain. It is no coincidence that Thatcher was nicknamed the "iron lady" for her firmness and adherence to principles. The following words are attributed to her: “Any woman who understands the problems that arise when running a house can understand the problems that arise when running a country”, “I am exceptionally patient, provided that in the end it comes out my way”, “Women are much better than men they know how to say “no”, “It is not at all necessary to agree with the interlocutor in order to find a common language with him”, “Free cheese is only in a mousetrap”.

Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC). This great ruler of the Qin realm. The dignity of Shihuangdi is called his activity to stop the centuries-old history of the warring Chinese kingdoms. In 221 BC. he was able to create a centralized state in Inner China, becoming its sole ruler. During the massive campaign to unify the country, important reforms were implemented to consolidate the gains made. The emperor proclaimed that all chariots should be with an axis of the same length, and all hieroglyphs should be written in a standard way. As a result of such positions, a unified system of roads was created in the country, and a disparate writing system was replaced by a single one. The emperor also introduced a single monetary system, a system of measures and weights. To suppress local tendencies towards sovereignty, Qin Shi Huang divided his empire into 36 military regions. The walls surrounding the former kingdoms were torn down. Only their northern part remained, having strengthened them, the Great Wall of China was erected, which protected the country from nomadic raids. Shihuangdi was rarely in the capital, constantly traveling around the country. The authority of the emperor was so great that a huge burial complex was built in his honor during his lifetime. It was built by 700 thousand people, and the burial perimeter was 6 kilometers. It is curious that, unlike his predecessors, the emperor refused human sacrifices. The tomb was found only in 1974, and it is still being studied. There was a whole terracotta army of 8099 soldiers.

Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970). This French general managed to turn from a brilliant military man into an equally talented politician. Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic, becoming its first president in 1959. Glory to the general was brought by his leadership of the French Resistance during the Second World War. During his life, he managed to become a real symbol of the freedom of France, as Joan of Arc once was. In fact, Charles de Gaulle took control of the country twice. Each time she was on the brink of disaster, and the politician returned her international prestige and put the economy in order. In foreign policy, France has become an independent player, abruptly withdrawing from the influence of the United States. Much is said not only about the merits of de Gaulle the politician, but also about his mistakes. Surprisingly, this talented military theorist did not participate in a single historically important battle. Nevertheless, he managed to save France from defeat. The military, not familiar with the economy, was able to effectively manage the country during two presidential terms and bring it out of the crisis. The thing is that de Gaulle knew how to effectively manage the affairs entrusted to him - whether it was a committee of insurgents or the government of a large country. The most famous words of de Gaulle were: “Politics is too serious a matter to be entrusted to politicians”, “Always choose the most difficult path - there you will not meet competitors”, “The deepest motivation for the activity of the best and most powerful people is their desire for power” .

Leader (from the English leader - leader, leader) - a person (group) who takes on the role of head, head of any social group, political party, organization, society as a whole; athlete leading the race.

Leadership can be exercised at various social levels: at the level of a small social group, at the level of a socio-political movement, at the level of the whole society and at the level of interstate structural formations. The phenomenon of leadership is due to the need to structure the social community and manage people.

The role of the political leader is very great. History knows many examples when, in the interests of individual political leaders or groups, bloody wars were unleashed between countries and peoples, and attempts to implement the crazy ideas of certain “leaders of the people” claimed the lives of many millions of people.

The history of leadership goes back to ancient times. Ancient historians and thinkers of the Middle Ages paid the main attention to political leaders. In monarchs, commanders, heroes, they saw the true creators of history, and the descriptions of certain historical events were more like stories about the exploits of a particular leader.

N. Machiavelli made a significant contribution to leadership research. In his work “The Sovereign”, he described in detail what personal qualities a sovereign should have. Here are some of these qualities: personal prowess, the ability to inspire others, decisiveness and consistency of action, optimism and the ability to make the right decision in time and other qualities, according to N. Machiavelli, should help strengthen the power of the sovereign and develop the state.

Developing the concept of leadership, F. Nietzsche tried to substantiate the need to create a higher biological type - a man-leader, a superman, standing on the other side of good and evil. Such a person, not limited by the norms of existing morality, rises above people, as they above monkeys.

The cult of a strong personality, described by F. Nietzsche, was subsequently used by theorists of fascism to substantiate his ideology.

Marxist theory (as interpreted by Russian Marxists) sees political leaders as historically necessary spokesmen for class interests. In ϲᴏᴏᴛʙᴇᴛϲᴛʙii with Lenin's theory, the masses are divided into classes, the classes are led by political parties, and the parties are ruled by leaders.

Leadership concept

A leader is a person who, for various reasons and circumstances, is endowed with a certain amount of authority in order to formulate and express the interests and goals of other people, to mobilize them for certain actions. How effectively he will fulfill the duties assigned to him, to a large extent depends on the personal qualities of the leader himself.

It is usually believed that in order to perform ϲʙᴏ and functions, it is extremely important for a leader to have competence, flexibility of mind, courage, determination, the ability to convince others that he is right, to mobilize people for certain actions, the ability to select and arrange people, to have "charisma" and a sense of foresight, the ability and courage to take responsibility not only for oneself personally, but also for others.

The leader must be able to exert psychological pressure on others, demonstrate to them decisiveness and aggressiveness, and unusual abilities and opportunities (even if he does not have them). A classic example of such "leadership behavior" is described in A. Volkov's book "The Wizard of Oz".
It is interesting to note that there the mediocre magician "the great and terrible Goodwin", skillfully bluffing, kept the whole country in fear and obedience.

Do not forget that an important role in creating the image of a leader is played by his environment (team). There is such an expression: "the retinue makes the king." The team is interested in creating the necessary image for a real or potential leader. With ϶ᴛᴏm, the image can be objective, subjective and modeled.

Objective (real) image- reflecting the real qualities of the leader and his position in the political system and in society.

Subjective image - ideas about the leader and his perception by various social strata of society.

Modeled image - the image of a leader who is trying to create his environment (team)

M. Weber identified three main types of leadership: traditional, charismatic, rational-legal or democratic.

Traditional Leadership based on political tradition, for example, the crown prince becomes king, even if he does not have the qualities of a leader.
It is worth noting that the basis of his legitimacy will be an elite origin.

Charismatic Leadership assumes the exceptional personal qualities of the leader himself, which he actually possesses or which are attributed to him by his environment and are inflated in every possible way by the media. Charismatic leaders were V.I. Lenin, I.V. Stalin, A. Hitler, Mao Zedong, A. Khomeini and others.
It is worth noting that the basis of the legitimacy of a charismatic leader will be his superiority over others.

Rational legal (democratic) leadership is based on the legal and regulatory framework that exists in society. For example, in ϲᴏᴏᴛʙᴇᴛϲᴛʙii with constitutional norms, citizens elect the president of their country, entrusting him with the highest post in the state for a certain period.
It is worth noting that the basis of his legitimacy will be the presidential status (public position)

It is worth saying that political leaders can combine several types of leadership at once. For example, a rational-legal leader may also have charismatic qualities (Ch. de Gaulle - France, F. Roosevelt - USA)

Given the dependence on leadership style, there are three main types of leadership: authoritarian, democratic and liberal.

Note that leadership theories

There are various theories explaining the phenomenon of leadership. For instance, trait theory explains the nature of leadership by the outstanding qualities of individuals.

In ϲᴏᴏᴛʙᴇᴛϲᴛʙii with situational concept leader ϲʙᴏ his "birth" is largely due to the situation. For example, the “right person” was at the “right time” in the “right place”, i.e. managed to assess the situation and did not miss the second chance. But with ϶ᴛᴏm it is necessary that the potential leader himself is “ripe” for the situation that has arisen.

Note that the theory of constituents considers leadership as a special relationship between a leader and constituents (activists, followers, voters who support this leader) leader from it.

Psychological concepts leadership can be roughly divided into two main areas. According to the first, in the “mass” person there is a need for authority and a patron. The absence of a hero-leader for many people becomes almost a tragedy. And such people are strenuously looking for idols for themselves and sometimes create heroes even from mediocre people (S. Freud)

The second direction of the psychological concept explains the phenomenon of leadership by the existence of a certain type of personality, predisposed to authoritarianism and constantly striving for power. Quite often, these people have certain inferiority complexes and, in order to somehow compensate for them, they strive to prove themselves, towering over others (E. Fromm)

Sociological concepts explain the phenomenon of leadership by the functional necessity of the social system. Any social structure (community, society) can function stably only if there is a certain control system. The leader will objectively be a necessary element of the control system (T. Parsons)

To classify leadership, the typology of political domination proposed by M. Weber, which was discussed above, is used.

There are other theories of leadership.

Functions of a political leader

The leader is endowed with special, sometimes unlimited powers. If he does not justify the hopes placed on him, then he can not only lose his leadership, but also suffer a more severe punishment.

The functions of a political leader are very diverse. It is worth noting that they depend on society and the state, in which he has to manage, on the specific tasks facing the country, on the alignment of political forces. Do not forget that the most important of these functions will be:

integration of society, social community, class, party, etc. on the basis of common goals, values, political ideas;
determination of strategic guidelines in the development of society and the state;
participation in the process of developing and making political decisions, identifying ways and means of implementing program goals;
mobilization of the masses to achieve political goals;
social arbitration, support of order and legality;
communication between the authorities and the masses, strengthening the channels of political and emotional connection with citizens, for example, through the media or during various public events, incl. and during election campaigns;
legitimization of power.

From the listed functions it is clear how great is the role of the leader in society and in any social structure. Therefore, in a number of countries (France, Japan, the USA, etc.), the selection and training of political leaders begins as early as childhood and adolescence. It is worth saying that there are even special schools and universities for ϶ᴛᴏ. A good school for preparing a political leader will be his participation in social movements and active membership in a political party. Under ϶ᴛᴏm, along with the professional abilities of a potential leader, great importance is attached to his moral quality.

Qualitative characteristics of a political leader

It is worth saying that political leaders have ϲʙᴏ and qualitative characteristics (“political status”, “political weight”, “political capital”, “political charisma”, “morality”, etc.)

It is worth saying - political status -϶ᴛᴏ the general position occupied by a political leader in the political system of a country or in the world community. According to A. V. Glukhova, political status implies:

place in the hierarchy of political power;
the totality and scope of political rights and ϲʙᴏbod;
the totality and volume of status duties, the space and nature of the status field of responsibility;
a real opportunity for certain groups, strata, individuals to participate in political life and influence it.

Thus, the popularly elected president of the country has the highest political status, since he will be the representative of the whole people. Countries that are permanent members of the UN formally have a higher status than countries that are not. Consequently, the leader of a country that is a member of the UN will also have a dominant status in the international arena. There are three main levels of informal political status of the leader.

Domestic (intrastate) informal political status, with which the leader is "endowed" by the political system of the country or civil society. For example, in the late 80s - early 90s. 20th century B. N. Yeltsin was “endowed” by a significant part of the Russians with the informal status of “a fighter against the CPSU and the totalitarian regime”, defending a democratic alternative to the development of Russia. This status largely contributed to his obtaining the formal status of the country's president and his victories in the fight against the CPSU and in the conflict with the parliament (1993).

Internal informal political status recognized by international organizations and institutions. For example, in the course of an internal political conflict, the leader of the separatist rebels is given the status of a fighter for freedom and democracy. This status provides him with international support, and the rules of the 1949 Geneva Conference on humane treatment of prisoners of war apply to the captured members of the armed formations. In the absence of such a status, prisoners would be treated as criminals. A clear example of such a development of events will be the first Chechen war (1994-1996). Many international organizations and institutions endowed Chechen militants and their leaders with the “status” of fighters for freedom and independence of the Republic of Ichkeria and provided them with all kinds of support. And only when irrefutable evidence of the connection of Chechen fighters with international terrorism appeared, their status changed and they lost a significant part of international support. But this "epiphany" was preceded by thousands of innocent victims.

External (international) informal political status recognized by international organizations and institutions. For example, such political leaders as Mahatma Gandhi (India, 30-40s of the 20th century) and N. Mandela (South Africa, 60-70s of the 20th century) were in opposition to the ruling party for a long time. those goals in their countries to the political regime. It is important to note that, however, with all this their political status was recognized throughout the world.

It is worth saying - political weight- ϶ᴛᴏ the general influence (real or symbolic) and authority of the leader in the political sphere. When people talk about political "heavyweights", they mean those political leaders who are able to have a significant impact on the political process, for example, in making a political decision or resolving a political conflict. For example, the political weight of the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin was due to the fact that he was supported by the absolute majority of Russians; The political weight of the President of the United States in the international arena is due to the economic and military power of this country.

It is worth saying - political capital- ϶ᴛᴏ the totality of the “merits” acquired by a political leader (ranks, titles, positions, statuses, political practice, decisions made, forecasts made, etc.) in the past and in the present.

According to D.P. Zerkin, “political capital means a number of features. In particular, the possession of some part of political power; inclusion in the political elite; political experience and authority, etc. 1 From our point of view, such a sign as “possession of some part of political power” will be optional for a leader. A former or current politician with political capital may be in opposition or out of politics altogether. But the very possession of political capital can contribute to its return to real politics (Sch. de Gaulle, F. Roosevelt) or influence the political process (be in demand) in a different capacity (for example, the former US Secretary of State H. Kissinger is periodically involved (as a private person) to solve certain political problems)

The accumulation of political capital can be facilitated by successes in other areas of activity, for example, Academician A. D. Sakharov became a well-known politician largely due to his contribution to the development of nuclear physics. At the same time, the main criterion for evaluating the “capital intensity” of a politician will be his successful experience in practical political activity and the confidence of the political elites and broad social strata due to it. For example, US President F. Roosevelt, thanks to her effective political activity, was elected four times to this post.

It is worth saying that political capital, like any other type of capital (financial, social, symbolic, etc.), can be accumulated (“win”) and increased, or it can be squandered (lose) or even “go bankrupt”. Social revolutions in the most severe form demonstrate the moment of bankruptcy of the existing regime and the ruling politicians. P. A. Sorokin gave the following description of Louis XVI, Nicholas II and their governments on the eve of the French Revolution (1789) and the October Revolution in Russia: “Before our eyes is a whole gallery of physical and mental impotent, mediocre rulers, feminine and cynical dwarfs." The concept of "bankruptcy" can characterize the end of the policy of M. S. Gorbachev, who tried to build "socialism with a human face." B. N. Yeltsin ϲʙᴏy rather "solid" political capital after 1993 wasted gradually.

It is worth saying that political capital can be transformed into other types of capital (social, cultural, military, symbolic, etc.) Reagan - film actor, President of the Czech Republic V. Havel - writer, well-known political and public figure A. D. Sakharov - nuclear scientist)

It is worth saying - political charisma - suggests that a political leader has certain qualities that distinguish him from others. Usually, charisma is bestowed on an outstanding political leader or a cruel tyrant. For example, A. Macedonsky, Peter I, Napoleon, V. I. Lenin, I. V. Stalin, F. Castro and others are considered charismatic personalities. At the same time, political organizations and political institutions can be endowed with charismatic qualities. For example, the CPSU in the Soviet period, in fact, was a charismatic party - "the mind, honor and conscience of our era." For many Russians, the current Communist Party is associated with the CPSU and is also endowed with charisma. Needless to say, for most Chinese, the Chinese Communist Party will also be charismatic.

Morality - implies that a political leader has high moral (moral) qualities, which are associated in the public mind with the ideals of goodness, justice, and honest performance of public duty. For example, the so-called liberal democrats, led by B. N. Yeltsin, who reformed the Russian economy (liberalization, privatization, etc.) in the 90s. of the 20th century are associated in the public consciousness of Russians as immoral politicians who made huge fortunes on the ruin of the country, and the high authority of V.V. Putin was largely based on his moral qualities.