Leadership Performance and Rhetoric

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Leadership and Rhetoric

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 1-15

3. Selecting the Case Studies: Six Australian Public Leaders

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 17-30

4. Tony Abbott: An Opposition Leader Not Waiting for Political Office

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 31-46

5. Julia Gillard: Dealing With the Burden of Leadership

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 47-63

6. Bob Carr: Foreign Minister or Secretary of State?

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 65-80

7. Kevin Rudd: Rhetoric and a Royal Commission

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 81-101

8. Noel Pearson: Civil Leadership and Political Rhetoric

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 103-117

9. Malcolm Turnbull: From Hope to Disappointment

   • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

   Pages 119-134

10. Conclusion

    • Adam B. Masters, John Uhr

    Pages 135-146

11. Back Matter

    Pages 147-153

    PDF

This book examines both the rhetorical content of contemporary public leadership and the leadership methods pioneered by early English statesman Sir Francis Bacon. In particular, it considers the use of public rhetoric to defend leadership legitimacy in six case studies, drawing on leadership contests in recent Australian political history. The authors map out the complex language of leadership in contemporary politics through chapter-length portraits of the inter-related political rhetoric of prime ministers Rudd, Gillard, Abbott and Turnbull, plus former foreign minister Bob Carr and indigenous leader Noel Pearson. The process is a novel application of leadership analysis derived from the political philosophy of Francis Bacon, who emerges as a founder of the study, and indeed practice, of political and public leadership. The book will appeal to students and scholars across the fields of political science, communication and rhetorical studies, and political history.

• Sir Francis Bacon leadership methods
• contemporary public leadership
• leadership legitimacy
• rhetoric used by political leaders
• contemporary Australian political history
• rhetoric of Tony Abbott
• rhetoric of Malcolm Turnbull
• rhetoric of Julia Gillard
• rhetoric of Bob Carr
• rhetoric of Kevin Rudd
• rhetoric of Noel Pearson
• Australian politics
• Australian prime ministers
• language of political leaders
• James Bryce's Modern Democracies
• gender politics
• political leadership
• leadership performance and rhetoric

“Words are actions, and leaders know it.  This thought-provoking study sheds light on the rhetorical battles that have shaped Australia’s recent political history – and it’s a cracking good read to boot.” (Dr Dennis Grube, University of Cambridge, UK)

“An original diagnosis of political rhetoric, in theory and practice.  The important thesis: leadership studies can renew itself by returning to its “neglected founder,” the enlightenment philosopher Francis Bacon. For Bacon provides a comprehensive art of persuasion that can defend scientific and social innovation and thus “new levels of human welfare.” The authors analyze accordingly six Australian instances, including a prime minister, Julia Gillard, combatting misogyny and a public intellectual, Noel Pearson, defending indigenous people.  Here is a seriously provocative book on Bacon-style political communication with a freebie: snapshots of Australian democracy in action.” (Professor Robert Faulkner, Boston College,USA)

• School of Sociology, Transnational Research Institute on Corruption, Australian National University, Acton, Australia

  Adam B. Masters

• School of Politics and International Relations, Centre for the Study of Australian Politics, Australian National University, Acton, Australia

  John Uhr

Adam B. Masters is Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Transnational Research Institute on Corruption at the Australian National University.

John Uhr is Director of the Centre for the Study of Australian Politics at the Australian National University.

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