Leading tasks in a leaderless movement: The case of strategic voting

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26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Leadership has proven a difficult concept to define, with the proliferation of definitions of leadership being more notable than any individual definition. This article takes a different approach to understanding leadership dynamics by identifying and studying leading tasks. Specifically, tasks associated with leadership in existing research are enumerated. Using data on two strategic voting mobilizations in 2000 and 2004, the empirical salience of various leading tasks to key organizers is traced and explained. The data suggest that although leadership was not evident in strategic voting, organizers did identify, prioritize, and take action on specific leading tasks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1327-1349
Number of pages23
JournalAmerican Behavioral Scientist
Volume50
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Leaders
  • Leadership
  • Social movements
  • Strategic voting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Social Sciences

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