Towards a Conceptual Framework for Political Leadership Theory and Practice: A Thematic Analysis of the Literature

Abstract

While there is agreement on the relevance of political leadership theory and practice, there is still deficiency in literature on viable approaches, enabling factors, and suitable personality characteristics. Suggested models for political leadership are mostly untested, which make their applicability and effects largely unknown. This paper proposes development of a conceptual framework and discusses how it can be used to design a model for political leadership. A thematic review of literature on political leadership identified 27 different theories and practices which elucidated fully or partially the components of political leadership theory and practice. The models were subjected to a thematic analysis to identify themes used in political leadership. The results were used to develop a conceptual framework. Two themes and four processes of political leadership were identified. From these results, a conceptual framework for political leadership theory and practice was developed. The framework illustrates the two components of the political leadership theory and practice while indicating a multidisciplinary set of relationships. As such the framework allows for individual themes to occur repeatedly through the political leadership continuum. The results of the study can serve as a preliminary model for developing an extended understanding of the theory and practice of political leadership, and also be used in disciplines such as political science, economics, sociology, and psychology, as a guide in determining inter-relational dynamics in political leadership patterns, behaviors, and character traits of leaders in future studies. The framework provides a foundation for gathering evidence from scenario-based case studies on the political leadership function. Attempts at utilising thematic analysis to develop a framework for ascertaining congruence between political leadership theory and practice is a new concept and it calls for further future study to improve the framework with an aim of advancing its practicality in explaining the concepts.