by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne
(June 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Political intelligence is comprises three types of intelligence: moral intelligence, emotional intelligence; and cognitive intelligence. All these qualities are vital to a political leader whose success at leadership would hinge on a harmonious blend of moral, emotional and cognitive rectitude and intelligence. To a political leader moral intelligence is essential as true leadership of a nation has be founded on universal values comprising integrity, compassion, forgiveness and responsibility. Moral intelligence is the mental capacity to determine how universal human principles should be applied to one’s values, goals and actions.
Authors Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel, in their book Moral Intelligence (Wharton School Publishing: 2008) state that moral intelligence is a positioning system for one’s life’s journey, analogous to the global positioning system used in some cars as a navigational tool. Broadly, moral intelligence comprises integrity, responsibility, compassion and forgiveness.
The last two qualities, compassion and forgiveness, bring to bear an inextricable link between moral intelligence and emotional intelligence, the latter of which is the ability to know one’s emotions, manage emotions, motivate oneself, recognize emotions in others and handle relationships. Central to emotional intelligence is the ability to use emotions well; to recognize them in others as well as in oneself and to use them effectively in relationships whether they be bilateral relationships or relationships with one’s constituents. An important characteristic of emotional intelligence is empathy, and the demonstration of empathy.
There is also cognitive intelligence which is the ability to analyse the physical and philosophical world around one. In business and academic terms, this type of intelligence could be called "technical skills".
An effective politician wins his election by electoral appeal. Drew Westen, in his book The Political Brain (Public Affairs:2007) states that the political intelligence that leads to voter enthusiasm is complex but it is often expressed in subtle ways that register with voters, largely unconsciously. Westen goes on to say that one of the main determinants of electoral success is simply a candidate’s "curb appeal". Curb appeal is the feeling voters get when they watch a candidate on television or at a speech delivered by the candidate which makes an emotional impact and impression on the voter. Body language, voice intonation, voice quality and facial expressions are some of the factors that go to create a favourable curb appeal.
Political intelligence essentially creates in the politician a sense of drama. In this sense, electoral success is largely dependant on the dramatic prowess of the politician. In other words, there is a lot in common between an actor and a politician. Charley Reese, in his well written article Actors and Politicians, states that there are striking similarities between successful actors and successful politicians.
Charisma is one characteristic both a politician and actor share. The only constituent of charisma is a high level of energy. Reese opines that we all instinctively recognize that energy equals life, and so when we run into people who exude an above-average level of energy, we are attracted to them, like moths to a flame. Both successful actors and successful politicians have an extraordinarily high level of human energy. A political campaign is a gruelling activity which draws energy from the candidate who usually has to start early in the morning and finish late at night, making public appearances in a number of places often separated by many miles. Politics is not just showing up. It is performance and tenacity. Politicians cannot look tired or lackadaisical. The candidate has to appear as though he is pleased with the people and the world, no matter what, with a fresh, eager and jovial countenance. While ordinary people can afford to be tired and look tired and grumpy, the candidate has to show that he has the staying power to be a leader who is pleased with his electorate.
An intelligent politician, like a successful actor has also to be energized by applause and their own performance. They have to genuinely enjoy the experience of interacting with people. Their firm handshake and the big smile should not diminish even for a moment when they are in public. They must come alive in front of an audience whether it is a friendly or hostile one.
Another important characteristic of a political candidate is that he must be both visually attractive and photogenic. This is a relatively new phenomenon but a relevant one in modern politics. Recently Goo Ranking, a Japanese public opinion survey Organization, posted the results of a look at the political world from this interesting angle. In a poll conducted between the 25th and 27th of September 2007 the respondents were asked to choose their most good looking political leader. Tony Blair, Shintaro Ishihara, Vladimir Putin, Hilary Clinton and Junichiro Koizumi were the top five. This is a new dimension in political determination and is believed to be inextricably linked with the curb effect that establishes an emotional connect between the candidate and the voter.
It is incontrovertible that any successful politician is a good leader, and good leadership has its own attributes. Michael Carroll, in his book The Mindful Leader (Trumpeter: 2007), lists ten characteristics of a dedicated and mindful leader. They are simplicity, poise, respect for the constituency, courage, confidence, enthusiasm, patience, awareness, skilfulness and humility. Firstly, a good leader recognizes that the average voter is a simple being who prefers simple explanations and simple solutions to his problems. The power of simplicity has been recognized by philosophers. For instance, Emanuel Kant, in his work The Critique of Pure Reason brings out the maxim that "rudiments or principles must not be unnecessarily multiplied, which is reflected in the Latin maxim entia praeter necessitatem non esse multiplicanda and argues that this is a regulative idea of pure reason which underlies scientists' theorizing about nature. Arguably the most relevant thought of a great scientist that could prove useful to the politician is that of Isaac Newton who, in his Principia Mathematica propounded the rule that one must not admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Newton went on to remark that "nature is pleased with simplicity, and affects not the pomp of superfluous causes" Another great, Galileo, in the course of making a detailed comparison of the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the solar system, maintained that "nature does not multiply things unnecessarily; that she makes use of the easiest and simplest means for producing her effects; that she does nothing in vain, and the like".
Poise is an important virtue of the good leader and it is a signal characteristic that infuses confidence in the mind of the voter. Poise is grace under pressure and it represents intelligent conduct befitting a leader of a nation. Dr David Laird, an expert on political strategy, states that poise is what makes one a master of situations. Dr. Laird said,"Although we call some persons natural-born leaders, usually the poise of leadership is a trait that has to be developed, and anyone can develop poise a little bit at a time." The way to develop poise, he says, is to destroy its enemies — nervousness, anger and the habit of speaking before thinking. The significance and importance of poise can be subsumed in the statement attributed to President Ronald Reagan of the United States: ""I have learned that one of the most important rules in politics is poise — which means looking like an owl after you have behaved like a jackass."
Respect of the voter is another important element in politics and leadership. Respect is taking into consideration the views and desires of others and incorporating it into one’s decisions. Respect is being truthful to people. When the leader respects others, he factors in and weighs others' thoughts and desires into his planning and balances it into his decision making. An example would be respecting someone's opinion. The leader may or may not necessarily agree, but he gives it his earnest consideration, and it may ultimately influence his decision.
Courage is the essence of political leadership and is often used synonymously with bravery and fortitude. A courageous leader is both moral and ethical and uses his ethics, and morals to serve the people. He symbolizes the true hero who gives his constituency a flicker of hope and courage to excel in the world. Courage goes hand in hand with confidence. A good example is Oliver Cromwell, whose military standing gave him enhanced political power, just as his military victories gave him the confidence and motivation to intervene in and to shape political events. An obscure and inexperienced MP for Cambridge in 1640, by the late 1640s Cromwell was one of the power-brokers in parliament and he played a decisive role in the 'revolution' of winter 1648-9 which saw the trial and execution of the King and the abolition of monarchy and the House of Lords. As head of the army, he intervened several times to support or remove the republican regimes of the early 1650s.
Of the other qualities, humility is the one which stands out the most and needs some discussion in the context of a political leader. With the advent of the internet and global communications networks, politicians are aware of the gigantic proportions of mass communication, participation and collaboration that is made possible between the business world, the political world and the average citizen. This new age phenomenon can endanger the future of hierarchically structured regimes and lay bare disingenuous politicians who may be inclined to engage in duplicitous conduct to win their election.
This article would not be complete without some reference to one of the most astute and skilful politicians and statesmen of the last century. He was a leader of our times who embodied the quintessence of moral, emotional and cognitive intelligence. I am referring to Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, who is referred to by Rodney H. Brady, a personal acquaintance as a soldier and strategist; politician; statesman; author; orator; humourist; landscape painter; an elected member of the British House of Commons for over 40 years who served twice as Prime Minister of Great Britain; a greatly loved husband, father and grandfather; and a man of strong principles. Brady says of Churchill: "I could not help but be impressed by the alertness and keenness of mind of the 80 year old Winston Churchill. He spoke clearly, though with a deep, guttural sound in his voice. He cleared his throat frequently which caused a slight muffling of some of his words. He could not have been more gracious. He went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and at ease. He appeared interested in what we said, and appeared to have preferred to remain with us longer, though agreed reluctantly to the suggestion of his aid, Montague Brown, that he had spent sufficient time with us. Brady goes on: "I was amazed at the openness of Mr. Churchill’s mind as I reviewed with him the contents and origin of the Book of Mormon. He appeared to me to be genuinely amazed and interested. Given his strong Anglican background, it would have been very easy for him to brush off as "trivia" that which we told him, but he didn’t. Perhaps it was because of his naturally gracious nature, and then, perhaps it was because he recognized the possibility of truth in the message".
Churchill proved to a world of discontent, discord and disillusionment that a true politician has to be a hero and that he cannot afford to be a Byronic hero or anti- hero, as portrayed by the character Pechorin in Mikhail Lermontov’s A Hero of Our Times. Pechorin was both sensitive and cynical. Although one of his chief attributes is extreme arrogance, he shows a deep insight into his own character and epitomizes the anti- hero who broods on the futility of existence and the certainty of death. Pechorin’s whole philosophy concerning existence is oriented towards the nihilistic, creating in him somewhat of a distanced, alienated personality. This is what we do not want our politicians to be.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
 Political intelligence is comprises three types of intelligence: moral ...){kind=link}
Post a Comment