THE ISSUE OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE THIRD WORLD: WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

[...] many scholars have contended that, in so far as the Third World nations continue to elect, select or appoint ineffective and selfish leaders, the issue of bad governance and its associated problems of political instability, social malaise, corruption, lack of accountability and transparency, and the respect for the rule of law will persist in the developing nations.8 The definitions of (political) leadership are overwhelming but the following will suffice for the purpose of illustration and amplification: * [T]he behavior of persons in positions of political authority, their competitors and those both in interaction with other members of society as manifested in the past, present, and probable future throughout the world.9 * Leadership over human beings is exercised when persons with certain motives and purposes mobilize, in competition or conflict with others, institutional, political, psychological, and other resources so as to arouse, engage, and satisfy the motives of followers.10 * Leadership is a process of human interaction in which some individuals exert, or attempt to exert, a determining influence upon others. * [P]olitical leadership is the mobilization and direction, by a person or persons using essentially non-coercive means, on other persons within a society to act in patterned and coherent ways that cause (or prevent) change in the authoritative allocation of values within that society.12 * Leadership is the process by which one individual consistently exerts more impact than others on the nature and direction of group authority.13 * [I]t seems possible to define political leadership...as the power exercised by one or a few individuals to direct members of the nation towards actions.14 * Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes that reflect their purpose.15 * [Leaders] are persons who exercise control over the behavior of others so as to move them in a desired direction.. .\n * They respect international conventions and international laws. * They promote transparency and encourage and adhere to internationally common forms of accountability. * They recognize that they are accountable for their actions and that no one is above the law nationally and internationally. * They promote policies aimed at eradicating poverty and... respect all human rights and civil liberties. * They demand and work for the peaceful and lawful transfer of power and promote and respect the separation of powers