Der uberschatzte Prasident. Anmerkungen zum Leadership-Diskurs anhand des "machtigsten Mannes der Welt"

In: Osterreichische Zeitschrift fur Politikwissenschaft, Heft 3, S. 273-288

Abstract

The article uses historic examples und systematic analyses to explain that the US president can only act within a rather narrow room to maneuver -- limited by the other "powers" of the US system as well as by public opinion. His (her) "power" is based on "transitional" (principally exchangeable) leadership -- & not (with the exception of specific extraordinary circumstances) on "transforming" leadership. For that reason, after their first experiences with political defeats, presidents try to escape into international affairs. In this arena, the president has -- differently from domestic policies -- more liberty to act independently from other domestic actors. The tendency to overrate the presidency has to be seen also as the result of the combination of two roles -- head of state & head of government. This double role strengthens the attitude to expect more from presidential power than is possible. Adapted from the source document.