WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER?
NEWT Option Two
Political leaders are always judged, no matter what they do. How are they dealing with problems that arise? What will they decide to do? What impact will the decision have?
Was it a good decision?
To answer this last question, we have to look at it from multiple angles. What was the initial problem? What was the decision the political leader made? Which short-term consequences did the decision have? And did it have any long-term repercussions?
Many Ministers for Magic served during times of conflict. Some were forced to resign from office after mismanaging the situation, like Albert Boot (in office 1747 – 1752) and Basil Flack (1752), who failed to properly handle goblin rebellions, or Hector Fawley (1925 – 1939), who was forced out of office due to not taking the threat imposed by Gellert Grindelwald seriously.
Often, this sudden failure ending a Minister's term in office can lead from them having a good reputation to being considered as bad leaders. And sometimes, a bad leader up to a certain point, who mastered and overcame a huge crisis, is considered as a great leader from then onward.
HOMEWORK:
The two Ministers for Magic we know most about are Cornelius Fudge (in office 1990 – 1996) and Rufus Scrimgeour (1996 – 1997). Both of them were in office after the return of Lord Voldemort, prior to the Fall of the Ministry of Magic in August 1997.
For this task, select one of them. Then do some research on some decisions they made during their time in office. Analyze these decisions and come to a conclusion if Fudge/Scrimgeour was a great or bad political leader.
*credit for this lesson belongs to TheSmartpool