The Political Leadership of Prime Minister John Major

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 1-30

3. The Greenstein Model in Context

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 31-55

4. Public Communicator

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 57-89

5. Organisational Capacity

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 91-129

6. Political Skill

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 131-171

7. Vision

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 173-215

8. Cognitive Style and Emotional Intelligence

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 217-251

9. Conclusion

   • Thomas McMeeking

   Pages 253-277

10. Back Matter

    Pages 279-308

    PDF

This book seeks to re-examine John Major’s leadership using techniques developed through Presidential Studies: namely using Fred Greenstein’s seminal study of Presidential Leadership, The Presidential Difference, and its six criteria for leadership (public communicator, organisational capacity, political skill, public policy vision, cognitive style, and, finally, emotional intelligence).  It is through Greenstein’s model that a fresh look can be taken at not only Major’s time in office, but equally the man himself, which proves to be just as revealing. Major’s tenure has often been characterised as being weak and incompetent,  as he presided over a sleaze-ridden and divided party on the issue of Europe. With almost a quarter of a century having passed since Major left office, it looks to be an appropriate moment to re-assess his premiership and important role in the recent seismic events surrounding the 2016 Brexit referendum and its outcome.

• political rhetoric
• prime minister
• John Major
• Conservative Party
• Conservatism
• political ideology
• psychology of John Major
• Fred Greenstein
• political skill
• political psychology
• party management
• British politics
• Major premiership
• public communicator
• leadership style

• School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

  Thomas McMeeking

Thomas McMeeking is a researcher and teaching assistant at University of Leeds, UK. His interests include: Political Parties, Prime Ministerial and Presidential Leadership studies, and UK and International Politics.
 

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