Scholars and commentators have suggested that South Africa has suffered from a dearth in good, moral, and virtuous leadership at the highest levels of government. This assignment asks you to consider what defines a “good leader” by looking at the ways in which prominent political theorists from across the world have approached the topic to help you answer the broad research question, “what makes a good leader, according to political theorists?”

Question

You are required to write a normative political theory paper that answers the research question stated here before by comparing and contrasting the ways in which political theorists from at least TWO different geographic regions (the West, Africa, or Asia) have approached the notions of good, moral, and virtuous leadership. Questions that will help you respond to the research question include the following:
- What is a “good” leader according to Western, Africa, and/or Asian political theorists?
- Who gets to rule, how, and why?
- What is considered moral, ethical, and/or just behaviour by a political leader, and should leaders always embody all of these characteristics?
- In which ways do African, Asian, and Western political theories on the concepts of morality, ethics, justice, and virtuous leadership overlap or differ?
Your paper should conclude with a response to the view that South Africa has suffered from a dearth of good, moral and virtuous leadership at the highest level of government (we don’t care if you agree or disagree with this statement, but we do want to see that you can come to a conclusion about whether the statement is true or false based on your reading of prominent political theoretical approaches to the notion of what makes a good leader). please write only the conclusion about South Africa and please utilize the simplest english. 300 words will be appreacited and please impress the marker

Answer 1

In conclusion, the assertion that South Africa has experienced a shortage of good, moral, and virtuous leadership at the highest levels of government can be seen as valid when we examine the definitions of good leadership presented by various political theorists.

First, Western political theorists such as Plato and Aristotle emphasize the importance of moral integrity, wisdom, and the pursuit of the common good in leaders. This framework suggests that leaders should be virtuous and serve the interests of their citizens. In contrast, African political thought, as seen in the works of thinkers like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, often prioritizes community, accountability, and a leader’s commitment to social justice and collective wellbeing. These theorists emphasize that leaders must be deeply connected to their communities and act with humility and integrity.

When considering the current state of leadership in South Africa, it appears that many leaders have failed to embody these characteristics. Issues such as corruption, nepotism, and a lack of transparency have undermined the trust that citizens should have in their leaders. This disconnection between political leaders and the communities they serve aligns with the concerns raised by both Western and African theorists about leaders acting in self-interest rather than for the common good.

Furthermore, the expectation that leaders should be both moral and ethically sound is evident in both traditions. Political leaders in South Africa have often neglected these expectations, contributing to a perception of inadequate leadership at the highest levels.

Therefore, the claim that South Africa has suffered from a lack of good, moral, and virtuous leadership is supported by the insights provided by various political theorists, both from the West and Africa. It highlights the need for a renewed commitment to ethical leadership that prioritizes the welfare of the people over personal gain.