Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance: Comparative Perspectives
Paul Strangio, Paul 't Hart, and James Walter
Abstract
Prime ministers stand at the apex of government and loom large in the consciousness of the nations they lead. Yet how well do we understand the variables of prime-ministerial performance, of why some prime ministers thrive in the role while others wither? This book provides a multifaceted analysis of how prime ministers fulfil their role as public leaders and how their performance of that role can be understood and evaluated. Two major themes are explored in depth. The first is how prime ministers gather, consolidate and wield power and authority and how the exercise of that power and authorit ... More
Prime ministers stand at the apex of government and loom large in the consciousness of the nations they lead. Yet how well do we understand the variables of prime-ministerial performance, of why some prime ministers thrive in the role while others wither? This book provides a multifaceted analysis of how prime ministers fulfil their role as public leaders and how their performance of that role can be understood and evaluated. Two major themes are explored in depth. The first is how prime ministers gather, consolidate and wield power and authority and how the exercise of that power and authority is influenced by the complex interplay of personal, institutional and contextual forces. The second is how the leadership performance of prime ministers is perceived and evaluated, and how such assessments evolve over time. These themes are illuminated in fascinating case studies of prime-ministerial performance in four Westminster democracies: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Keywords:
prime minister(s),
leadership performance,
political parties,
cabinet,
executive government
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2013 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780199666423 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: May 2013 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199666423.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
Paul Strangio, editor
Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University
Paul 't Hart, editor
Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University & Associate Dean, Netherlands School of Public Administration
James Walter, editor
Professor of Politics, Monash University
More
Less
