Prepossession and Indifference Political leaders as integrative and disintegrative mechanisms in Hungary

Abstract

Abstract The paper outlines an answer to the question: how to analyse political leaders. After giving an overview of the relevant literature in political theory and leadership studies, the so called CIP model is presented in details. The model claims that, regarding their mental models and behaviours, the outstanding political leaders may be classified as enacting charismatic, ideological or pragmatic leadership. Accordingly, the political process has three interdependent components: the leadership style, the expectations of the followers and the situation in which the leader should act. A leader will be successful and outstanding if, in a specific given and/ or constructed situation, he or she behaves in the style that is favourably received by the followers under such conditions. The main result of such a behaviour is that the leader is able to unite and integrate many citizens in his or her political community, and indirectly in the overarching Hungarian political community. Keywords: Political leadership, charismatic leader, leadership research, CIP model