Laughing at leadership

Abstract

Laughing at leadership reconsiders an early chapter in the intellectual history of theories of leadership. This paper draws on British novelist Henry Fieldings forgotten attempt to evaluate political leaders against standards of leadership in his 1743 satirical novel Jonathan Wild, which models political leadership on the exploits of noted English thief-taker general Jonathan Wild, who was hanged in 1725. This work is a pioneer in leadership studies: it dates from the beginning of modern studies of the chief political executive, with a biting satire on the emerging power of the British prime-ministership under Walpole. Fielding was politically active as a member of the loyal opposition triggered into formation by Walpoles unprecedented pre-eminence as a party and parliamentary leader and his remarkable 21 year tenure as head of government (1721-42). Is Fielding laughing simply at Walpole, or at the office of the prime ministership or at political leaders as such? What is the standard of greatness against which Fielding measures political leadership? What constructive models of great political leadership would pass the laughter test?