I am not sure that any of the major
political parties gets it, but Harper definitely does not, attacking
the leader of a party as if he and he alone is responsible for
decisions of policy or as if he alone would be responsible for
proposing or passing legislation is ridiculous. Effective perhaps,
but totally without merit. True the Harper Regime is VERY centralized
and VERY autocratic but even they must surely come to some kind of
consensus within their inner caucus and thus we must criticize the
“Harper Regime” not just Harper.. There are two extremes of
leadership 'style' Autocratic and Democratic, Harper’s style is very
much the former whist most of us would think that in a democratic
society the leadership style should lean much more towards the
latter. Only if the leadership is totally autocratic can we lay the
blame for decisions and policies entirely in his (or her) lap,
generally others with positions of influence and power must also take
responsibility be they elected or appointed to the 'inner circle'.
“In
an autocratic leadership style, the person in
charge has total authority and control over decision making. By
virtue of their position and job responsibilities, they not only
control the efforts of the team, but monitor them for completion
–often under close scrutiny
This style is reminiscent of the
earliest tribes and empires. Obviously, our historical movement
toward democracy brings a negative connotation to autocracy, but in
some situations, it is the most appropriate type of leadership. That,
of course, doesn’t mean a blank check to ignore the wellbeing of
his subordinate. “
“The
democratic leadership style is a very open and
collegial style of running a team. Ideas move freely amongst the
group and are discussed openly. Everyone is given a seat at the
table, and discussion is relatively free-flowing.
This style is needed in dynamic and
rapidly changing environments where very little can be taken as a
constant. In these fast moving organizations, every option for
improvement has to be considered to keep the group from falling out
of date.
The democratic leadership style means
facilitating the conversation, encouraging people to share their
ideas, and then synthesizing all the available information into the
best possible decision. The democratic leader must also be able
to communicate that decision back to the group to bring unity the
plan is chosen. “
Our Parliamentary Democracy system is
meant to be much like the latter style of leadership where issues are
discussed openly, various point of view considered and the best
decision possible made after considering all options. Needless to say
it does not actually operate that way particularly when the leader is
highly autocratic AND has a majority. Although we are told we vote
for individuals to form a parliament in reality we nearly always vote
for a party as represented by its policy’s and its public face in
the form of its leader, with a strongly autocratic leader who
dictates to or ignores the majority of his “subordinates” what
they can say or do how can it be otherwise.
I would hope that in the future we
elect individuals whose leaders lean much further towards the
democratic style of leadership for it would solve much of the
parliamentary 'dysfunction' currently in evidence. Is Justin Trudeau
such a leader? I have no idea but I suspect he is, his perceived
“lack of leadership experience” may in fact be just a less
autocratic and more democratic 'style' than we are currently used to,
and if so is in my view a major asset. The power invested in the PM
will not change anytime soon but the manner in which it is used can -
with the right 'leader'. Let us hope that we have some better choices
when next we try and decide who or what we are voting for.
This post was inspired by those attack
ads from the Harper Regime upon Justin Trudeau that try and cast
doubts upon his skills and style before he even has had a chance to
display them. They do NOTHING for Canada except cast doubt upon the
conservatives methods and judgement! With that in mind I offer this
'tag line' to those Liberals out there looking for way to respond to
such things.
“Justin Trudeau, He will give you
the shirt off his back whilst Harper turns his back on democracy”
(or, parliament, our scientists, the
environment, accountability, etc, etc, etc)
Take your shirt off Justin and fight
for Canadian Democracy!
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