International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies Volume 8, Issue 4, 2021, PP 27-35 | ISSN 2694-6296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22259/2694-6296.0804003 King Moshoeshoe’s Autotelic Personality Leadership Style – A Conflict Resolution Model in a World in Flux Dr. Ilongo Fritz Ngale University of Eswatini *Corresponding Author: Dr. Ilongo Fritz Ngale, University of Eswatini. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT This article critically explores King Moshoeshoe’s Autotelic Personality Leadership Style (APLS) and conflict resolution mechanisms against the backdrop of Southern Africa during the Zulu militarist kingdom between 1815 and 1840, or the Lifaqane onslaught. The paper hypothesizes that when authentic Basotho African leadership principles of Khotso, Pula, Nala, or Peace, Rain and Prosperity are made operative through APLS, it becomes possible to peacefully resolve conflicts based on the disruption of traditional existential reference points. The APLS of King Moshoeshoe 1 resolves conflicts through the ideals of hospitality, adaptability, and empowerment. The methodology is basic research and the theoretical framework is critical theoretical analyses articulated around positive psychology, autotelic personality, and the Basotho traditional concepts of Khotso, Pula, Nala. This paper concludes that APLS of King Moshoeshoe 1 is an ideal model for effective and efficient management of contemporary African and world conflicts related to rapid and constant social, cultural, physical, psychological, economic, and political flux. The evidence of this assertion is based on the fact that the APLS of King Moshoeshoe 1 has created a Basotho nation out of the Lifaqanesea of turbulence and violence. Key words: Khotso, Pula, Nala, Autotelic Personality, Positive Psychology.. INTRODUCTION Basotho nation of Lesotho could never have emerged, especially against the backdrop of World in Flux Today flux, violence, and displacement of thousands of “In the early 21st century, the forces generating people as a result of the Lifaqane onslaught international migration are more powerful than between 1815 and 1840. ever” (Castles 2014, p. 190; UNHCR, 2016, p. Objectives 2). The ‘drivers’ of international migration can be considered as those factors that increase the The following are the objectives of the paper: likelihood that people will decide to leave their • This paper argues that in a modern context homes in search of a better life (Castles 2013, p. of rapid and constant social, cultural, 124): – neo-liberal globalization and social physical, psychological, economic, and transformation; – social and economic political transformations, with their inequalities; – state security and human security; attendant exacerbation of dissociations, – technology; – labour demand; – demographic marginalisation, exclusions, and alienation, changes; – politics; – law and governance; – the the ideal leadership style should originate social dynamics of migration; and – the role of from autotelic personality figures. the people who make their living by facilitating migration (‘the migration industry’). As • This research highlights King Moshoeshoe different societies come together, there is a 1 as an example of a monarch with an deepening of diversity between and within them, autotelic personality leadership style in and there is urgent need to find ways of coping conflict resolution. In effect because of his with subsequent and inevitable challenges that autotelic personality, he was capable of come up at both the domestic and the harmoniously blending into one nation, international levels (Parekh, 2008). Lesotho, and people, the Basotho, a motley crowd of scared, dispossessed and forcefully Statement of the Problem displaced people from various parts of the This paper posits that without the autotelic sub-continent who had fled from the King personality traits of King Moshoeshoe 1, the Shaka’slifaqane. International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies V8 ● I4 ● 2021 27 King Moshoeshoe’s Autotelic Personality Leadership Style – A Conflict Resolution Model in a World in Flux • This paper argues that King Moshoeshoe’s urgent imperative for developing and effectively Autotelic Personality Leadership Style and efficiently implementing metaskills for (APLS), is a timeless leadership model managing and resolving conflicts. The latter which was forged and tried in the crucible could not have been resolved without a ‘low of a world in flux during the consolidation self-centeredness ethos’ which characterizes of King Shaka’s kingdom through military autotelic personalities. conquests. Autotelic personalities have a greater ability to • This paper increases understanding that manage the intricate balance between the play of traditional African societies like that of the challenge finding and the work of skill building Basotho, individualized by the Autotelic (Csikszentmihalyi et al., 1993). According to Personality Leadership Style (APLS) of Csikszentmihalyi, challenge finding and skill King Moshoeshoe 1 has original and building are supported by different, sometimes authentic conflict resolution mechanisms. even opposing traits or processes which are APLS was characterized by the elements of simultaneously present in autotelic personalities: Khotso, Pula, and Nala. pure curiosity and the need to achieve; enjoyment and persistence; openness to novelty Review of Related Literature and narrow concentration; integration and The literature review focuses on positive differentiation; independence and cooperation psychology and the concept of an autotelic (Csikszentmihalyi et al., 1993; Nakamura personality. &Csikszentmihalyi, 2002). Where non-autotelic individuals may see only difficulty, the deep Positive Psychology sense of interest aids autotelic individuals to Positive psychology is the study of positive recognize opportunities to build their skills. subjective experience, positive individual traits, King Moshoeshoe 1 as we shall see and positive institutions, aimed at improving the demonstrated to a very high degree the skills of quality of life at both individual and societal curiosity, persistence, and openness to novelty, dimensions by looking for common grounds for concentration, independence, cooperation, and general well-being (Seligman & low self-centeredness, among others. Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Positive psychology is Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi (2002) concerned with eudaimonia, an Ancient Greek describe similar core characteristics of autotelic term for "the good life" and the concept for personalities (i.e., curiosity and interest in life, reflection on the factors that contribute the most persistence, and low self-centeredness) as to a well-lived and fulfilling life. metaskills. Csikszentmihalyi et al. (1993) Autotelic Personality proposed that these complementary (receptive and active) qualities in tandem produce a Autotelic is a word composed of two Greek powerful autotelic combination. The roots: auto (self), and telos(goal). An autotelic simultaneous presence of complementary or activity is one we do for its own sake because to even opposing traits fosters a dynamic, experience it is the main goal. dialectical tension which is conducive to (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). Csikszentmihalyi's "optimal" personality development and the concept of an autotelic personality is derived evolvement of complex individuals from his flow model. According to his original (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996; Csikszentmihalyi et model (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975/2000), flow is al., 1993). King Moshoeshoe could effectively experienced when an actor perceives a balance be termed ‘a complex autotelic personality between the challenge of an activity and his or facing equally complex challenges.’ There is a her own skills. dialectical tandem between King Moshoeshoe’s Csikszentmihalyi and Csikszentmihalyi (1988) challenging experiences and the development of proposed that flow is experienced when both, his autotelic personality, in the sense that it is challenges and skills, are high, and in effect the interaction of the psychological and most flow research to date has started from sociocultural forces which simultaneously these assumptions and operationally defined provide challenge and support, independence flow as experiences of balance (or high/high and cooperation, flexibility and cohesion, combinations). King Moshoeshoe’s autotelic integration and differentiation. In the context of personality was a combination of the maximal this paper, the challenges for King Moshoeshoe challenges from the chaos of lifaqane, and the 1 entailed integrating and harmonizing refugees 28 International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies V8 ● I4 ● 2021 King Moshoeshoe’s Autotelic Personality Leadership Style – A Conflict Resolution Model in a World in Flux from the lifaqane into a harmonious corpus criticizing society in terms of its own espoused through which peaceful coexistence would values. precede cultural differences of the uprooted The core concepts of Critical Theory are as peoples. follows: Methodology • That critical social theory should be directed The methodology used in this paper is basic at the totality of society in its historical research, while the theoretical framework is specificity (i.e. how it came to be critical theoretical analyses. configured at a specific point in time), and Basic Research • That Critical theory should improve Basic research, also called pure understanding of society by integrating all research or fundamental research, aims