Elements of the Blairite image of leadership

Finlayson, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3939-349X (2002) Elements of the Blairite image of leadership. Parliamentary Affairs, 55 (3). pp. 586-599. ISSN 0031-2290

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Abstract

In contemporary media dominated democracies, where national populations are complex and citizens increasingly 'individualised', political leaders must cultivate a personalised image of intimacy and equivalence with their populations. Reviewing the leadership theories of Machiavelli, Marx, Gramsci and Weber, this article argues that such intimacy and equivalence is central to the image of Tony Blair. Election broadcasts and other promotional material attempt to portray Blair as an ordinary person whose political commitments derive from everyday personal experience rather than ideology or dogma. Using the styles and codes of popular television, these broadcasts and other such publicity invite viewers to identify with this experience and to see Blair as like them, as ordinary and not extraordinary.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Cultural Politics, Communications & Media Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2013 15:14
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 12:47
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/44971
DOI:	10.1093/parlij/55.3.586

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