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This book sheds light on the theory of political leadership, which is still an under-researched field of political science. It is related to the philosophical argument about determinism versus activism and helps to understand the basic conflict of the 21st century between liberal democracy and new authoritarianism. The book looks at Max Weber's typology of political rule and his concept of the ethics of responsibility, which are key to the theory of leadership. The author shows that the unfinished contest between democracy and new authoritarianism in the 21st century confirms the importance of leadership in old and new democracies as well as in the neo-authoritarian regimes and calls for a new type of political leaders.

Frontmatter -- Cover -- Jerzy J. Wiatr: Political Leadership Between Democracy and Authoritarianism. Comparative and Historical Perspectives -- Contents -- Foreword -- Introduction -- Chapter One: The essence of leadership -- 1. Philosophy of history: determinism versus activism -- 2. Leader's personality: a psychological interpretation -- 3. Ethics of leadership -- Chapter Two: A typology of political leadership -- 1. Max Weber's pure types of legitimate rule -- 2. Controversies over the charismatic leadership -- Chapter Three: Democracy and political leadership -- 1. Leaders and citizens in democracy -- 2. Presidential leadership -- 3. Leadership in parliamentary systems -- 4. Democratic leadership and party systems -- 5. Conservatives, reformers, and nation-builders -- Chapter Four: Autocratic leaders in modern times -- 1. A typology of non-democratic regimes -- 2. The men on horseback -- 3. Totalitarian and authoritarian party leaders -- Chapter Five: Political leadership in the transition to democracy -- 1. Alternative explanations of transition -- 2. Modes of extrication from non-democratic regimes -- 3. Different outcomes: democracies or renewed authoritarianism -- 4. Democratic consolidation: the importance of leadership -- 5. Dilemmas of transformative leadership -- Chapter Six: New authoritarianism and political leadership -- 1. Nationalist populism in the 21st century -- a) Russia -- b) Belarus -- c) Turkey -- d) Hungary -- e) Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia -- f) Poland -- 2. New and old authoritarianism: similaritiesand differences -- 3. New authoritarianism and the post-communist heritage -- 4. Political leadership in new authoritarianism -- Conclusions -- Backmatter -- References -- Keywords -- About the author -- Back cover.

This book sheds light on the theory of political leadership, which is still an under-researched field of political science. It is related to the philosophical argument about determinism versus activism and helps to understand the basic conflict of the 21st century between liberal democracy and new authoritarianism. The book looks at Max Weber's typology of political rule and his concept of the ethics of responsibility, which are key to the theory of leadership. The author shows that the unfinished contest between democracy and new authoritarianism in the 21st century confirms the importance of leadership in old and new democracies as well as in the neo-authoritarian regimes and calls for a new type of political leaders.

The authors deal with comparative aspects of contemporary authoritarianism. Authoritarian tendencies have appeared in several "old democracies" but their main successes take place in several states which departed from dictatorial regimes recently. The book contains case-studies of contemporary Hungarian, Kenyan, Polish, Russian and Turkish regimes.

The authos deal with comparative aspects of contemporary authoritarianism. Authoritarian tendencies have appeared in several "old democracies" but their main successes take place in several states which departed from dictatorial regimes recently. The book contains case-studies of contemporary Hungarian, Kenyan, Polish, Russian and Turkish regimes.

The authors deal with comparative aspects of contemporary authoritarianism. Authoritarian tendencies have appeared in several "old democracies" but their main successes take place in several states which departed from dictatorial regimes recently. The book contains case-studies of contemporary Hungarian, Kenyan, Polish, Russian and Turkish regimes.

Jerzy J. Wiatr's book, The Soldier and the Nation: The Role of theMilitary in Polish Politics, 1918-1985, will undoubtedly be controversial. It is the interpretation of an insider whose uncle was a Polish general, who worked as a civilian sociologist at the Military Political College in Warsaw in the 1950s, and who is thoroughly familiar with the

The book constitutes a sociological analysis of the origins of the Polish-German antagonism in the nineteenth and twentieth century and of the process of overcoming it. The author discusses the role played by the religious and political leaders as well as intellectuals of both nations and presents survey research data showing the marked improvement in mutual relations.



After a long history of alternating relations, things between Poland and Germany were as bad as never before after World War II. The Nazi attack on Poland in 1939 and the atrocities committed during the occupation resulted in intense Polish hostility towards Germany. On the German side, the loss of territories created a feeling of harm and contributed to deepen anti-Polish stereotypes. The process of reconciliation emanated from initiatives taken by the Christian churches and courageous individuals on both sides, but the crucial step was taken by Chancellor Willy Brandt and the Polish communist leader Wladyslaw Gomulka, who in 1970 worked out a comprehensive agreement for normalizing relations between Poland and the Federal Republic. Following the collapse of communist regimes and unification of Germany mutual relations took the form of co-operation and partnership within the structures of democratic Europe. Today, both sides are about to overcome former stereotypes. While some differences of interests still remain, the overall picture of the current relations between Germany and Poland is one proof that even deepest wounds of the past do not prevent nations from overcoming antagonism and from building friendly relations.