Leadership in the Realm of Rights Life
How Do We Choose Our Leaders ?
Governments in our time concern themselves with many aspects of life, and take many roles in society. Perhaps the most central and legitimate of these however, is regulation of rights among human beings. This article asks the question "how might we best choose our leaders in this realm of rights life ?" As elsewhere on this World B Well page, I'll draw for insight on the threefold social idea of Rudolf Steiner
Ground principles in the realm of rights
What are "rights", really ? In simplest form, rights concern protections of the safety, freedom and well being of one group or individual from infringement by another group or individual. These protections become rights on the basis of agreements we make among ourselves. Core tasks of government in the threefold social perspective might include :
- Gathering concerns of the governed in this realm of rights, including perceived harm, infringements and trespasses of freedom.
- Considering these various kinds of harm and infringement which arise.
- Determining if there is agreement (consensus or majority) that a particular harm or infringing behavior is unacceptable.
- Establishing rules concerning harmful or infringing behaviors.
- Establishing consequences for them when they occur.
- Creating systems of detection and enforcement.
- Creating systems for administration of justice.
Perhaps the most essential principle concerning rights, is that of equality. The need for freedom from harm and infringement is common to all human beings, and safety is a ground condition of life - at least any kind of life that's human and worth living. We each feel harm and infringement from these things when they happen to us, and this is in fact our basis for participating in rights life - an inner organ by which we know we or someone else is being wronged. For rights life to unfold in a healthy way therefore, all must be protected equally under the law, and be able to participate as equals in this realm of life. For any group or person to gain special rights or privileges, on the other hand, creates immediate potential for harm
- Gathering concerns of the governed in this realm of rights, including perceived harm, infringements and trespasses of freedom.
- Considering these various kinds of harm and infringement which arise.
- Determining if there is agreement (consensus or majority) that a particular harm or infringing behavior is unacceptable.
- Establishing rules concerning harmful or infringing behaviors.
- Establishing consequences for them when they occur.
- Creating systems of detection and enforcement.
- Creating systems for administration of justice.
Perhaps the most essential principle concerning rights, is that of equality. The need for freedom from harm and infringement is common to all human beings, and safety is a ground condition of life - at least any kind of life that's human and worth living. We each feel harm and infringement from these things when they happen to us, and this is in fact our basis for participating in rights life - an inner organ by which we know we or someone else is being wronged. For rights life to unfold in a healthy way therefore, all must be protected equally under the law, and be able to participate as equals in this realm of life. For any group or person to gain special rights or privileges, on the other hand, creates immediate potential for harm
LEADERSHIP in the Rights Sphere
Given the need for equality, who would be qualified for “leadership” in rights life ? Is such a thing possible ? To be desired ?
Leadership in the rights sphere is in fact needed - simply because not all people can be present for the many deliberations required - for the identification of problems, formulation of rules, creation of courts and enforcement bodies etc. To benefit society, rights life will therefore require some system of representation. A first appropriate question concerning leadership might be : "what qualities are most needed or desirable in a representative ?"
Leadership in the rights sphere is in fact needed - simply because not all people can be present for the many deliberations required - for the identification of problems, formulation of rules, creation of courts and enforcement bodies etc. To benefit society, rights life will therefore require some system of representation. A first appropriate question concerning leadership might be : "what qualities are most needed or desirable in a representative ?"
Characteristics of a Leader
A first essential quality of a leader in this realm of life would clearly be empathy - the ability to feel effects of infringement in another person as if they happened to him or herself.
A next characteristic would be broad familiarity with practical life, with “the ways of the world” ; and not least, with the particular place and people represented.
A third essential quality in a leader would be effectiveness : intelligence of a kind that quickly and accurately grasps the facts of a situation, the possibly conflicting needs of groups and individuals ; and solutions possibly workable for all parties concerned.
A further characteristic of a leader in this sphere of rights would be impartiality ; genuine fairness and freedom from prejudice, both towards persons and situations.
Related to this would be a quality of inner flexibility : the ability to see or do things in new ways, and to change course as needed, despite past personal views or experiences.
The quality of flexibility would not conflict with that of courage : the ability to hold a course of action deemed correct, even in the face of resistance and consequences.
A seventh quality would of course be integrity : an imperviousness to improper influence.
A further important characteristic of a leader would be a specific vocation for rights life, combining temperament, values and will. This would necessarily include belief in the dignity of each individual human being ; in the importance of safety and freedom to human life ; and an active impulse to protect all, equally in these matters.
Summarizing these characteristics might be the term selflessness – the ability to recognize the interests and needs of others, and work for them as if they were one’s own.
A next characteristic would be broad familiarity with practical life, with “the ways of the world” ; and not least, with the particular place and people represented.
A third essential quality in a leader would be effectiveness : intelligence of a kind that quickly and accurately grasps the facts of a situation, the possibly conflicting needs of groups and individuals ; and solutions possibly workable for all parties concerned.
A further characteristic of a leader in this sphere of rights would be impartiality ; genuine fairness and freedom from prejudice, both towards persons and situations.
Related to this would be a quality of inner flexibility : the ability to see or do things in new ways, and to change course as needed, despite past personal views or experiences.
The quality of flexibility would not conflict with that of courage : the ability to hold a course of action deemed correct, even in the face of resistance and consequences.
A seventh quality would of course be integrity : an imperviousness to improper influence.
A further important characteristic of a leader would be a specific vocation for rights life, combining temperament, values and will. This would necessarily include belief in the dignity of each individual human being ; in the importance of safety and freedom to human life ; and an active impulse to protect all, equally in these matters.
Summarizing these characteristics might be the term selflessness – the ability to recognize the interests and needs of others, and work for them as if they were one’s own.
Shadow Aspects of Leadership
The above considerations may help in evaluating those who seek office as our “leaders”. They may also help us recognize contrasting negative or “shadow” aspects of leadership.
If the desirable quality of a leader would be selflessness, of concern would be a leader unable to think or act beyond himself, or his own interests. Study of psychological personality disorders – particularly the antisocial, narcissistic and histrionic types - may help identify qualities we might not wish in our leaders. Persons with these disorders are not particularly troubled by them ; their outlook and actions are often not highly selfless, and they’re inclined to blame their problems on others. But they may be highly functional in society, and it's interesting to note that these conditions are seldom officially diagnosed.
While It's the task of rights life to prevent harm by one group or person upon another, no judgment is intended here of persons with an illness ; to label or despise such people can in fact be just one more source of social harm. What may help however, towards choosing good leaders, is to recognize patterns of attitude and behavior that are warning signs.
If the desirable quality of a leader would be selflessness, of concern would be a leader unable to think or act beyond himself, or his own interests. Study of psychological personality disorders – particularly the antisocial, narcissistic and histrionic types - may help identify qualities we might not wish in our leaders. Persons with these disorders are not particularly troubled by them ; their outlook and actions are often not highly selfless, and they’re inclined to blame their problems on others. But they may be highly functional in society, and it's interesting to note that these conditions are seldom officially diagnosed.
While It's the task of rights life to prevent harm by one group or person upon another, no judgment is intended here of persons with an illness ; to label or despise such people can in fact be just one more source of social harm. What may help however, towards choosing good leaders, is to recognize patterns of attitude and behavior that are warning signs.
Drawing From the Well of History
A final help in choosing our leaders can be to study great leaders of the past. To deal with our cynicism and doubts about humanity, nothing can help more than to study outstanding human beings. As other areas of life, politics has its best and shining examples. The lives of such persons not only restore our sense for the positive potential in humanity, they raise our standard and expectations : our awareness of what we really want ; and of what we're willing and not willing to accept. In meeting these "best examples" of human beings, we also glimpse times in history when the process itself has worked to serve humankind ; and this can only give us courage and strength.
Article by : Jeff Smith RN
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