Adapting the Full-Range Leadership Model to the Study of Political Leaders Across Time and Regime Type: a Case Study of Venezuela
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Adapting the full-range leadership model to the study of political leaders across time and regime type: a case study of Venezuela Natasha Lindfield A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Business May 2018 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Lindfield First name: Natasha Other name/s: Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Business, UNSW ADFA Faculty: N/A Title: Adapting the full-range leadership model to the study of political leaders across time and regime type: a case study of Venezuela Abstract 350 words maximum: The political science discipline lacks a comprehensive model of leadership through which to conduct the systematic analysis of political leaders. This is surprising given the critical impact that political leaders have on all sectors of society. The management discipline, however, has multiple leadership models that could be adapted for the analysis of political leaders. This thesis addresses the absence of a systematic model of leadership in the study of political leaders by modifying the full- range leadership model utilised in management studies. When this model is applied in the realm of political science it facilitates analysis of both different styles of political leadership and the influence of political regime type in enabling or constraining leadership behaviour. This thesis also adopts a defining moments lens to provide focus for data collection. Such a lens has been utilised by other studies of leadership in the private sector. However, its application in political science is undeveloped. Venezuela provides an ideal case study to test how the full-range leadership model can be adapted to a political context, involving comparison of presidents across differing times and three distinct regime types: authoritarian, democratic and hybrid. From applying the full-range leadership model and defining moments framework, four key contributions emerged. First, the full-range leadership model was expanded to include a broader range of leadership styles to facilitate a deeper analysis. Second, the examined presidents from democratic and hybrid regime types were shown to predominantly utilise a hybrid leadership style approach, indicating that the ethical foundation of the regime type was not the most influential factor in the presidents’ choices of leadership style in defining moments. Third, the defining moments of the examined presidents were interconnected and served as a legitimating force for their leaderships. Fourth, in looking forward, the research suggested that a focus on the outcomes of the leadership style, rather than the ethical foundation of the leadership style in itself, was a more useful focus for the study of political leaders. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). 23.05.2018 Signature Witness Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: i Abstract The political science discipline lacks a comprehensive model of leadership through which to conduct the systematic analysis of political leaders. This is surprising given the critical impact that political leaders have on all sectors of society. The management discipline, however, has multiple leadership models that could be adapted for the analysis of political leaders. This thesis addresses the absence of a systematic model of leadership in the study of political leaders by modifying the full-range leadership model utilised in management studies. The conceptual basis for the full-range leadership model was originally conceived by the political scientist, James MacGregor Burns, but further developed by the organisational psychologist Bernard Bass and extensively applied to leadership in the private sector. When this model is applied in the realm of political science it facilitates analysis of both different styles of political leadership and the influence of political regime type in enabling or constraining leadership behaviour. This thesis also adopts a defining moments lens to provide focus for data collection. Such a lens has been utilised by other studies of leadership in the private sector. However, its application in political science is undeveloped. Venezuela provides an ideal case study to test how the full-range leadership model can be adapted to a political context, involving comparison of presidents across differing times and three distinct regime types: authoritarian, democratic and hybrid. From applying the full- range leadership model and defining moments framework, four key contributions emerged. First, the full-range leadership model was expanded to include a broader range of leadership styles to facilitate a deeper analysis. Second, the examined presidents from democratic and hybrid regime types were shown to predominantly utilise a hybrid leadership style approach, indicating that the ethical foundation of the regime type was not the most influential factor in the presidents’ choices of leadership style in defining moments. Third, the defining moments of the examined presidents were interconnected and served as a legitimating force for their leaderships. Fourth, in looking forward, the research suggested that a focus on the outcomes of the leadership style, rather than the ethical foundation of the leadership style in itself, was a more useful focus for the study of political leaders. ii Copyright & Authenticity Statements COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation. Signed Date 23 May 2018 AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format. Signed Date 23 May 2018 iii Statement of Originality I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Signed Date 23 May 2018 iv Acknowledgements This thesis is truly the result of the support I have received from my village of supervisors, colleagues, friends and family. A huge thank you, first of all, to my supervisors Professor Mark Turner and Dr Anthea McCarthy-Jones for their patience and support throughout the years. Under their guidance I have grown immensely, both as a researcher and as a human being. I will always appreciate the opportunities, inspiration, time and energy they gave to my PhD. Special thanks to Professor Michael O’Donnell at UNSW ADFA for his support and guidance during the second half of my PhD. I am grateful for the many valuable learning opportunities he facilitated for me. I am also grateful for the support of my UNSW ADFA colleagues and peers – thank you for creating a wonderful learning community. I wish to acknowledge my Shut Up and Write buddies, especially Kath Whitty, at both the University of Canberra and UNSW ADFA, for their companionship, empathy, and encouragement throughout this PhD. Their support and camaraderie made all the difference. Thank you to my friends for their patience with me during these last few years as I focused much of my energy on writing my thesis. Thank you also to Corina de Araujo, who checked my Spanish translations, and to Lulu Respall-Turner for her proofreading skills. The support and encouragement of my family not only throughout the PhD but in my life in general has been a huge factor in getting this far.