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On the rhetorical strategies of leaders: speaking clearly, standing back, and stepping down

Dewan, Torun and Myatt, David P. (2009) On the rhetorical strategies of leaders: speaking clearly, standing back, and stepping down. PSPE working papers (06-2009). Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

Followers wish to coordinate their actions in an uncertain environment. A follower would like his action to be close to some ideal (but unknown) target; to reflect his own idiosyncratic preferences; and to be close to the actions of others. He learns about his world by listening to leaders. Followers fail to internalize the full benefits of coordination and so place insufficient emphasis on the focal views of relatively clear leaders. A leader sometimes stands back, by restricting what she says, and so creates space for others to be heard; in particular, a benevolent leader with outstanding judgement gives way to a clearer communicator in an attempt to encourage unity amongst her followers. Sometimes a leader receives no attention from followers, and sometimes she steps down (says nothing); hence a leadership elite emerges from the endogenous choices of leaders and followers.

Item Type: Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/government/PSPE/WorkingPaper...
Additional Information: © 2009 The Authors
Divisions: Government
STICERD
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Date Deposited: 10 Sep 2009 12:40
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2023 23:15
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/25149

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