Freethought Discussion: Political Leadership in a Democratic Republic

Topic: Political Leadership in a Democratic Republic

Moderator: Alan E. Johnson

The political turmoil of the last several years and the recent indictments of former President Donald J. Trump raise questions that have long been subjects of political philosophy. For example:

What are the characteristics of ideal political leadership?

What are the characteristics of acceptable political leadership?

What are the characteristics of dangerous political leadership?

What kind of political system is most conducive to the best or good political order? A representative democracy with individual constitutional rights? A direct democracy with individual constitutional rights? A direct democracy with unlimited majority rule and no individual constitutional rights? A totalitarian regime? An authoritarian regime? An aristocracy? An oligarchy?

Should government be based on a concept of the common good or on conflicting interest groups or both?

Such are the questions that will be addressed in the June 15, 2023 discussion.

Reference (not required reading):

James Madison, Federalist No. 10, November 22, 1787, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0178. Several of these issues were addressed in depth in Madison’s Federalist No. 10.

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