ATS3903 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Harold Lasswell, Liberal Democracy, Apsis
20 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
Political psychology: a concern with the nature of those who aspire to, attain and utilise power, or with the way people behave in situations involving choices relating to power. With the exception of aristotle, these classical interpretations agree that leadership performance was primarily governed by the individual character of a leader. Plato"s ideal leader was the philosopher-king": blessed with the wisdom to wield power effectively with the temperament to be restrained: statecraft that is judicious. Abuse of power is avoided, not by external constitutional constraints on the leader"s authority, but by internal constraints of character, education and a profound sense of duty. ". The character and quality of the city-state is de ned by the innate character and qualities of the leader. The character of the leader is more fundamental than laws or constitutions in ensuring good governance. Plato"s philosopher king has enduring appeal as a normative reference point for the ideal leader.
