Executive Heads and the Role of Intergovernmental Organizations: Expansionist Leadership in the United Nations and the European Union

Kent J. Kille*, Roger M. Scully

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite considerable advances in methods to examine leaders' personal characteristics using at-a-distance assessment, few studies have applied such techniques outside of the national level. This study reveals that such approaches can provide analytical leverage for examining executive heads of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). The personal characteristics of six United Nations Secretaries-General and four European Union Commission Presidents were measured via content analysis of their responses to questions. Separately, their behavior in office was measured via historical accounts and analyses. In general, executive heads with higher expansionist leadership style scores displayed a greater willingness to try to enhance the status of their organizations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-198
Number of pages24
JournalPolitical Psychology
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2003

User-Defined Keywords

  • at–a–distance assessment
  • European Union Commission President
  • Intergovernmental organization role
  • Leadership style
  • United Nations Secretary-General

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