Leadership and Politics in Political Development

Joshua and Cato led the small archipelago of St Vincent and the Grenadines for over thirty years. They exhibited a leadership style that played on the hopes, fears and aspirations of their followers. They acted on these hopes and aspirations by incorporating them into their wider vision of what the country’s future course should be. Joshua’s approach was through agitation and mass mobilization. Cato’s approach was through intermediaries or the formal structure of government. The people followed these leaders with enthusiastic loyalty. They perceived them as salvation out of their distressful dilemma. Despite their confrontational styles, they recognized that stability was necessary to foster economic progress; so they were prepared to compromise when necessary. They set the benchmark for political development, discourse and behavior which is using the state and state apparatus for their own self-interests. This type of politics is still in vogue today.