Political And Civic Leadership

I jumped at the chance to shepherd this collection. This was personal for me. In the past, when I had prepared to teach courses on political leadership, I had come up with a dearth of recent scholarly attention to the topic. Perhaps my perspective on politics and leadership exacerbated the difficulty of my search. I had in mind a politics that touched all aspects of power and authority in our lives (not just government), encouraged the moral imagination, and affirmed human agency that could make the future better than the present. I searched with limited success for material that would explain how all of us shape and are shaped by politics. My perspective on leadership may have also hindered my search. I had in mind the simple notion of taking initiative on behalf of shared values. I found too little material about leadership that extended beyond the spectacle of authority and its assumption of hierarchy. I wanted to explain that each of us, regardless of our place in a hierarchy, has a calling to lead - to act on behalf of our moral imagination. Editing this volume permitted me the chance to develop the material I sought. I (as well as other teachers) no longer have a shortage of material relating politics and leadership with each other. From the Introduction

I jumped at the chance to shepherd this collection. This was personal for me. In the past, when I had prepared to teach courses on political leadership, I had come up with a dearth of recent scholarly attention to the topic. Perhaps my perspective on politics and leadership exacerbated the difficulty of my search. I had in mind a politics that touched all aspects of power and authority in our lives (not just government), encouraged the moral imagination, and affirmed human agency that could make the future better than the present. I searched with limited success for material that would explain how all of us shape and are shaped by politics. My perspective on leadership may have also hindered my search. I had in mind the simple notion of taking initiative on behalf of shared values. I found too little material about leadership that extended beyond the spectacle of authority and its assumption of hierarchy. I wanted to explain that each of us, regardless of our place in a hierarchy, has a calling to lead - to act on behalf of our moral imagination. Editing this volume permitted me the chance to develop the material I sought. I (as well as other teachers) no longer have a shortage of material relating politics and leadership with each other. From the Introduction

Based upon a three-year multi-disciplinary international research project, Political and Civic Participation examines the interplay of factors affecting civic and political engagement and participation across different generations, nations and ethnic groups, and the shifting variety of forms that participation can take. The book draws upon an extensive body of data to answer the following key questions: Why do many citizens fail to vote in elections? Why are young people turning increasingly to street demonstrations, charitable activities, consumer activism and social media to express their political and civic views? What are the barriers which hinder political participation by women, ethnic minorities and migrants? How can greater levels of engagement with public issues be encouraged among all citizens? Together, the chapters in this volume provide a comprehensive overview of current understandings of the factors and processes which influence citizens’ patterns of political and civic engagement. They also present a set of evidence-based recommendations for policy, practice and intervention that can be used by political and civil society actors to enhance levels of engagement, particularly among youth, women, ethnic minorities and migrants. Political and Civic Participation provides an invaluable resource for all those who are concerned with citizens’ levels of engagement, including: researchers and academics across the social sciences; politicians and political institutions; media professionals; educational professionals and schools; youth workers and education NGOs; and leaders of ethnic minority and migrant organizations and communities.

This textbook provides a systematic and up-to-date introduction to political, public service and civic leadership. Drawing on a wide range of examples from across the Western world, it elegantly unpacks the dilemmas and complexities that leaders inevitably face, therefore clearly illustrating the distinctive character of public leadership. Written by one of the most respected figures in the field internationally, this text offers an erudite perspective on leadership that avoids superimposing business strategies onto public institutions. With emphasis on both established approaches and cutting-edge research – including his own – the author provides an intellectually sophisticated but accessible assessment of the nature, limitations and potential of public leadership in the twenty-first century. Packed with fascinating insights, questions, ideas and examples throughout, the text is the ideal theoretical and practical guide to public leadership. Engaging and thought-provoking, it is clear to see why this state-of-the-art textbook has become essential reading for students, academics and practitioners alike.

The day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, civic leaders began to organize four coalitions that aimed to give ordinary citizens a chance to meet, to heal, and to be heard in rebuilding decisions. This book tells the inside story of the civic renewal movement they founded.

Though governments play an important role in everyday life, citizen commitment to understanding government policy and procedures is lacking. Without creating an environment that properly holds governments accountable for their actions, the rights and liberties of citizens become threatened. Civic Engagement in Social and Political Constructs is an essential reference source that discusses global civic engagement practices as well as social change through political means. Featuring research on topics such as citizen participation, political engagement, and political reform, this book is ideally designed for political scientists, politicians, sociologists, researchers, government officials, and students seeking coverage on individual and societal engagement through civic means.