Leaders, Democracy and Accountability

Abstract

This panel examines how the multifaceted nature of public and political leadership present various challenges for the setting up of efficient scrutiny processes as well as for their study by public policy scholars and political sociologists. First, accountability and scrutiny of public policy, crisis response and localised governance place leaders and leadership upfront and central, raising questions about decision making and the adequacies of leadership responses in different political settings. Second, measuring, evaluating and assessing political leadership has generating a wide range of research tools and methodologies. From trait analysis of individuals in leadership positions to broader analysis of relational support for leaders and predictive typologies of leadership styles and approaches, much variety has been evident in the field. This panel thus welcomes papers that consider the scrutiny mechanisms that exist to make political leaders and leadership accountable for their actions as well as papers that engage with the challenge of collecting, measuring and evaluating the performative impact of political leadership.