Contemporary discussions about the nature of leadership abound. But what constitutes a good leader? Are ethics and leadership even compatible?

Accounts of leadership often lie at either end of an ethical spectrum: on one end are accounts that argue ethics are intrinsically linked to leadership; on the other are (Machiavellian) views that deny any such link—intrinsic or extrinsic. Leadership appears to require a normative component of virtue; otherwise ‘leadership’ amounts to no more than mere power or influence. But are such accounts coherent and justifiable?

Approaching a controversial topic, this series of essays tackles key questions from a range of philosophical perspectives, considering the nature of leadership separate from any formal office or role and how it shapes the world we live in.