LEADERSHIP, LOCKE, AND THE FEDERALIST

Theory: The conception of leadership in liberal-democratic thought is inadequately understood but its meaning and evolution may be clarified by examining the ways in which the concept has been used by political agents and theorists. Argument: The classic American work of politica l thought, the Federalist Papers, is reexamined in light of the implic it and explicit conceptions of leadership embedded therein and in term s of their relation to similar ideas discoverable in John Locke's Seco nd Treatise. Conclusions: A need and demand for a special kind of repu blican leadership capable of exercising expedient prerogative within a constitutional order is found. That leadership is to emerge from the population as they engage the political process within an intricate co nstitutional structure. Such leadership is necessary for a liberal rep ublic but not sufficient in itself to assure its success. A mediated c ivic virtue, exercised as reason based upon a self-interested love of liberty under a well constructed constitution and shared by leaders an d some significant portion of the citizenry is both necessary and suff icient to the persistence and well-being of the republican polity. Imp lications: Contemporary understandings and usages of concepts such as leadership can be improved by examining them as historical and mutable ideas. Stipulative definitions may, as a result, be made more effecti ve and useful. Political theory, perhaps especially that drawing upon the liberal tradition, leadership studies, and political science can b enefit from efforts to clarify basic concepts by comprehending their h istorical evolution.